Dads, as we start the new year, it’s a great time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the year ahead. This is especially important when it comes to our relationships with our children and families
Who do you want to be as a dad? The fun dad? Adventurous dad? The more structured dad? The effective communicator dad? The present dad? The compassionate dad? The potential options are limitless! It’s like asking a kid “what do you want to be when you grow up?” and they start listing off their heart’s desires.
Seeking advice is an interesting concept. What is the point? Who do I ask? Do I trust or believe the source? What do I want to know? How much do I share? I’d like to answer some of these questions from my perspective and hopefully you can share your perspective as well in the comments.
We share two powerful stories that can help kids reach their potential. In our first video, Jack Armstrong shares the impact his “tough love” had on his former players. He then connects that to how parents can set expectations and support their children in meeting or exceeding those expectations. His insight and wit in telling the story makes the principle easy to digest.
The role you play as a dad in your family will depend on what your children are like, what you and your partner are like, and the type of work you both do. But it all starts with what your children need. And the more attention you pay to all their needs, the less you’ll be asking, “What’s my role?”
There are so many types of dads out here and the term “being present” means so many things. To the dad who lives at home with his kids, being present may look like putting down your digital device long enough to give your kids attention. To the long-distance dad, being present may look like using creative ways to spend time with your children. To empty nest dads, finding a way to stay involved in your children’s lives when they no longer live at home is a challenge.