So. First Father’s Day I decided to spend without my dad. And from Day 1 of being in this fandom, I have always admired everyone’s favorite rat dad. Imperfect though Master Splinter is, he always proves himself to be a savvy sensei and a supportive dad. I always admired that in the dude, and looked up to his character so much as a kid.
So today I thought long and hard, and found what I loved about Splinter. Here (along with my drawings) are my conclusions.
He is a listening ear, and a source of gentle support when he witnesses his sons struggling, even (especially) with obstacles they must ultimately face alone.
He learns and appreciates the intricacies of each of his boys’ personalities, and believes undoubtedly that they can succeed in whatever they put their mind to.
He finds ways to share in his sons’ joys, finding his own way to relate to them, and in turn they want to make him proud with what they achieve.
He acts fearless, even when he doesn’t feel it. His character, at the end of the day, is there to protect his sons, and do his best to teach them how to protect themselves one day.
Happy Father’s Day, to all those who celebrate.
