The father-son relationship is so unique that it is hardly replaceable by just anyone, however it remains a vital relationship in the family. It develops and grows young boys into men, giving fathers a chance to pass down their great qualities and affection to their sons. Although a father-son relationship may be imperfect at times, there are many ways that boys can connect and grow this unique connection into a beautiful bond.

This year, be inspired by the father-son bond between Malaysian filmmaker and YouTuber, Jared Lee, and his stepfather over the years, including a recent exceptional journey courtesy of Cycle & Carriage which helped the duo to bond over a shared experience. Through the experience, he reflects on his personal journey with his dad and shares practical tips on how to improve our relationship with dad.

Tip #1: Put in the effort and make every little moment count

Every relationship requires effort from both sides, even if one side has to try harder than the other. Start by paying attention to dad’s likes and dislikes and weave that into every little moment you have with him. Whether it is maneuvering the conversation to topics he likes or planning a simple surprise for him, remember that dads are still humans who appreciate your expression of love.

“A couple of years ago on my dad’s birthday, I arranged a driver to pick up my dad to head to Genting with my family and gave him some money to spend in the casino. It was funny and heartwarming to see him smile like a child who just received a toy, even from this simple surprise arrangement. This showed me how a little effort goes a long way in letting dad feel appreciated, while it also helped us connect better after,” shared Jared.

Tip #2: Find a common interest or hobby to experience together

If you often find yourself struggling to create conversation with dad, break the ice by having a common hobby or interest. Besides opening up conversation and reducing any awkwardness, it also creates the opportunity to spend quality time together which leads to a closer bond.

“For my dad and I, our shared interest in cycling truly helped to grow the connection between each other because we could experience the joy of cycling together. It gave us an avenue to chat easily since both of us wanted to improve at this hobby and try out the best cycling gears out there. A plus point is that we are often in better moods because we adopted an active and healthy lifestyle in the company of one another,” added Jared.

Tip #3: Help dad look good by being his wingman

As men, don’t forget that dads also need to look good, especially in front of the mums. Earn brownie points by helping him impress mum with a little extra arrangement, since you are the best person to know what both mum and dad like. During a recent collaboration with Cycle & Carriage, Jared shared about how the Mercedes-Benz dealership equipped him with keys to the brand new EQB 350 4MATIC by Mercedes-EQ, which he cleverly put in the hands of his dad to take his mum on a date.

“I remembered my dad mentioning that his dream car was a Mercedes-Benz. So when Cycle & Carriage offered me the experience with their latest Mercedes-EQ, I immediately thought of passing my dad the keys so he can take mum out for a date night at a nice restaurant. It’s every boy’s dream to drive their girl somewhere in a nice car, and I’m happy I helped him check that box,” shared Jared.

Tip #4: Build the courage to reach out even as an adult

Most children and dads grow apart during the child’s teenage years when they start developing their own personality and opinions, hence maintaining a close father-child relationship requires a little more navigating as adults.

One key is to be bold in taking steps to reach out to each other. Jared recalls how he solidified his relationship with his dad during his tea ceremony at his wedding, when he expressed that he was his only dad regardless of his stepfather status by law.

“I didn’t have a dad from the day I was born, hence I’ve always found it hard to approach or discuss things with my stepdad as a kid. However, there was always this want to connect and bond with this father figure. I’m so glad my dad showed me how patient and kind a dad can be through the years, which helped me build the courage to reach out to him,” shared Jared.

“Reconnecting with a family member is a journey that is worth the effort. More than just about reaching your goal of creating the perfect relationship, what makes the journey exceptional is the process of getting to know each other better and building a bond that will last a lifetime,” added Jared.

Get to know more about Jared’s story and his relationship with his stepdad in this Father’s Day collaboration with Cycle & Carriage by watching the video here.