With father’s day on the horizon, many of us are thinking more about what fatherhood means – especially in the modern era. Being a dad isn’t what it used to be. Once upon a time, men were quite hands-off on the child-rearing front, leaving it to their wives to do most of the heavy lifting. Changing expectations and male roles in the family, however, are changing all this, and now most of us are constantly with our kids.
But what is the anatomy of a great dad? How do we know we’re on the right track? And what can we do to get as many father’s day gifts as possible from our adoring families?
You’re Open-Minded
There’s a difference between having an open mind that is curious and one that is a public sewer. The mind that can entertain new ideas is one that can grow, develop and keep up with the kids. The one that cannot change is forever stuck in the mire, unable to move forward. Dads that are open-mind celebrate their kids moving forward and trying new things. It’s all part of the experience.
You Teach Your Kids To Appreciate What They Have
While many of us would love to have it all, the reality of life is that we usually can’t. Accumulating money, skills, and relationships takes an enormous amount of effort. And many people never get what they want.
Desire, though, is the root of suffering and one of the reasons grown adults can’t enjoy themselves. Teaching kids to love the life they have right now, therefore, sets them up for future contentment. It helps them avoid the pitfalls of civilisation.
You Spend Time With Your Kids
Dads need to play a significant role in their kids’ lives to teach them vital skills. Fathers are experts and drilling kids, providing personal discipline and encouraging perseverance – all crucial skills for life success. If you spend an hour with your kids every day, you offer more than enough time to exchange ideas and put them on a solid footing.
You Lead By Example
Dads don’t judge bludgeon their kids into submission. Instead, they show preferred behaviours by actually doing them in real life. Remember, children can spot a fake a mile off. If you tell your kids not to shout but scream at them every time they do something wrong, you won’t get very far. Don’t be afraid to rely on your natural character. Your masculine influence will inevitably filter through authentically, providing all the instruction they need.
You Let Kids Make Mistakes
Children haven’t been in the world for a long time. Inevitably, therefore, they make mistakes. After all, they’re still learning about reality and relationships.
The best dads accept this sort of thing and even encourage it. They know that it takes time to master oneself and the world. And those errors are what lead people to learn and grow.
So how would you rate yourself as a dad? No doubt, you’re a top-notch father who deserves a big pile of presents come father’s day.
