I think your dad is offering a cool gift! Whatever happens it's good thing to show your writing to more people, it'll just get easier the more you do it. An you never know when or where you'll get that one piece of advice that really clicks for you. My only advice is that you start something else while you're waiting for feedback, it makes the waiting and the criticism easier to take ("oh yeah, if you didn't like that one wait'll you see my next one!"). Hell, I've sent my stuff off - to people who've asked for it - and never heard anything back, which was quite maddening. Paying an editor is definitely something I'd love to do on that happy day when I have extra money.