20 Things a Great Father should do

Having had some early struggles in becoming a father, I think I’ve been able to appreciate having children more so than most fathers do. Only when you go through a battle, do you really cherish the reward.

I base this not only on personal observation, but also from news reports from all over the world. How many times do we hear about absentee fathers when a kid gets in trouble? Or about fathers who inadvertently forget about their children when they separate or divorce their spouse.

Regardless of life and career accomplishments a father might have, the only thing that matters is what kind of father and person he is. We should embrace the opportunity to be great fathers. It is a way of passing down our legacy to our children.

These are my own Top 20 things to do to show you’re a great father; I’m sure other fathers have their own things they do to make them stand out as great fathers.

1. Be kind, always Seriously why wouldn’t you. Wouldn’t you rather they remember you for your kindness instead of that one time you were mean to them? Because they’ll remember the mean one way longer than you think.
2. Be patient They’re little, they’re growing and sometimes they don’t know how to do things. Be gentle with them and give them a helping hand instead of losing your cool. Losing your cool is not good for anyone, especially not for someone who’s counting on you for help.
3. Show affection Why not hug them and hold them close. It feels great to do this. And not just for them but for you too.
4. Provide a sense of security Have a stable home life; have a stable job. Providing them security is one less thing for them to worry about in their little heads.
5. Be dependable Always, always try to do what you say you will do. They’ll remember if you don’t. If you don’t think you can do something then don’t promise.
6. Show up and be there Attend their activities even if they’re not doing something you like. Just being there will make them feel better.
7. Be supportive When they want to do something you don’t agree with, put yourself in their shoes and think of what your own parents would’ve said or done. If this elicits a bad experience for you, then don’t do the same to them.
8. Discipline them Yes, kids will do things that will earn them a timeout. When issues arise, make sure you explain why they’re being disciplined. Don’t just say “Because I said so!” Make sure you do this with love and not any other motive.
9. Make them laugh Be spontaneous and say something funny or silly. It’s okay to act up every once in a while. It’s just you and them and no one is watching.
10. Be the role model You have no choice in this one. What you say and do will shape their minds. Be the best role model you can be and someday you will see the results and will be very proud.
11. Greet them with a smile Kids notice human behavior and body language more than we realize. They don’t care if we’ve had a bad day at work, or that we got into an argument with someone. They just want to feel your love and there’s no better way to show them than to always greet them with a smile.
12. Do the little things Even if it’s just spending time watching TV with them, or sitting at the dinner table. Offer to help them with their homework; or just ask them how their day was. You’d be surprised with some of the responses you’d get.
13. Get up early and make them breakfast Food is always a good way to bond with kids. There’s nothing better than to share some time in the kitchen and let them help make something for all to share. It doesn’t have to be anything extravagant; anything they like will do.
14. Read with them Not only should you read to your children, but also allow them to read to you too when appropriate. If they’re too young to read, get an animal picture book and make animal sounds with them. They’ll get a kick out of that and will show them you’re comfortable being with them.
15. Take them places Why not ask them to go with you when you run errands, or when you go to the grocery store. The time you spend together in the car can be very valuable.
16. Be a good husband; respect their mother Children need to know there’s stability in the home, and how you and your spouse interact around the house will have a major impact on their lives. A son will learn how to treat women by how a father treats his wife.
17. Know when to say no There will come a time when a request can be granted, but saying no will be more important than giving them whatever it is they want.
18. Don’t ever yell at your child, ever We are not Neanderthals guys; we don’t need to rant and rave. If you ever lose your composure and yell at your kids, they have already won the fight because they’ll know what it takes to get under your skin.
19. Listen to what they need Kids will usually verbalize what they want so this one on the surface doesn’t appear important. But it’s important to have a feel for your children so that you know what they might not be telling you.
20. Love them with all of your heart Why wouldn’t you love them with all of your heart. After all, they made you who you are and have given you the greatest love in life. Your children will always love you no matter what, and you should do the same.

That’s it! That’s my list. Very simple and not difficult to do at all. But if you do have trouble with one of the items on this list, don’t give up and say you can’t do it. Just improvise and come up with your own alternative. The important thing to know is that we are heroes and sometimes even idols to our children, and we should act accordingly.