Being a Better Dad
Posted by: Rowena French in Parenting Articles, tags: Parenting ArticlesMy parents were great and I had a great childhood. We were poor but happy. We did lots of things together. Our family activities included camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, cooking and gardening weekends together, card games and shared reading. My parents showed each other a great deal of respect and love.
I want to be a better dad and be as good as my father was. We have two children already and another one on the way. I want to be a truly great father. I know that good communication and shared time is a good start. Unfortunately my work time seems to leave the little spare time for my wife and family.
When our new baby arrives home I want to make sure that I’m able to support my wife properly. I’ve had two children to practice on being a good father but I think you need more help. With more strategies I’m sure I can be a better dad.
Every day I see happy kids and happy dads. In the stores we are bombarded with magazines that display photos of celebrity dads and their kids. How do they do the best job they can? They listen, watch others, read and do things that show their family they love and cherish them.
It’s the little things that often count. Bringing flowers home for your wife, arranging a babysitter for an unexpected outing, cooking dinner, bathing the kids, supervising homework, suggesting take outs. It’s the surprise element that makes your gestures thoughtful. Think of ways you can help and support the running of your home and the nurturing of your family.
The kids will love it when you come home early and take them to the park. An ice-cream treat is always a winner! Kids love to spend time with their dads and moms love dads to share the parenting role. An early morning walk with the kids really hits the spot with their mom as it allows a leisurely start to the day. Organize the kids to get breakfast in bed for Mom.
Even if they aren’t very effective, most fathers try very hard to be good dads. If you are going to change, make sure it is a long-term change rather than just a week when you turn into this new fantastic father. You have to maintain being a super dad. Your kids will be very unhappy if you turn on good fatherhood for a few days and then become the old grouch that you used to be.
Like anything else, if you want to improve you have to plan and set goals. Why not try some lateral thinking like Edward de Bono? Corrupt three Collins and had them there’s Positive, Negative, and Interesting. As you start to investigate being a better father, note down the things that seem to be effective, ineffective, or need to be considered later. Make up a working list of good activities and put into place.
Work through your planned list carefully and don’t try to do everything at once. When you do try a new strategy, find out if the family appreciates what you have done. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when you notice how much more positive they are about you. More importantly, you’ll know that you’re doing your job well and that you’re working hard to be a better dad.
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