With Father’s Day just around the corner, I wanted to share with you a few thoughts on what I believe to be the true meaning of what I call just being a Dad. Here is what being a Dad means to me:
- Requires that you know there’s a difference between protecting and preventing.
- Involves the transition from being someone who was selfish, to one who is selfless.
- Causes me to accept the fact that it’s really no longer about me anymore.
- Means remembering that we have not inherited this planet from our ancestors, rather we are only borrowing it from our children.
- Demands that I always keep in mind that one generation plants the trees, while the next gets the shade.
- Asks that I always keep in mind the greater good is far more important than the perceived greatness of having goods.
- Involves being able to walk a mile in pint sized shoes.
- Requires that you be comfortable with being a hero to someone but respectful of the power that being a hero entails.
- Means that just as soon as you’ve figured some aspect of parenting out, you have to learn another one as the kids keep changing too.
- Involves knowing that your kids are watching and listening to every thing you do or say.
- Requires that you know how to build a snow-fort which no army could ever get past, followed by knowing how to make the best hot chocolate EVER once you come back inside.
- Teaches you how to survive with less sleep, since your kids will get you up during the night when they are younger and keep you up at night once they are older.
- Means that you make mistakes along the way, and that while you think you’ve just ruined your child for life in the process, you discover they’re actually more resilient that you think.
- Requires you to remember that once upon a time you did the same senseless and stupid things as a kid that your kids do today, and yet you somehow still survived.
- Teaches you that you don’t actually need to go to the Gym when your kids are young since they are more than happy to act as substitute weights to perform chest presses, arm curls, push ups and sit ups.
- Prepares you for hearing the word “again” each and every time you do something with the kids that is fun for them but physically draining for yourself.
- Quickly teaches you that no matter how many times you say “just this once” it will have no bearing whatsoever on how many times you’ll be asked to do
it.
- Has one particular advantage over being a mom in that stress induced gray hairs on dads are actually viewed as positive and distinguished.
- Nowadays requires that you are just as skilled with a spatula as you are with a screwdriver
- Is at the same time both the scariest accomplishment I have ever achieved (or ever will achieve) as well as the greatest accomplishment ever…by far!
SO WHAT DOES BEING A DAD MEAN TO YOU?
I’d love to get a conversation going here and I’d love to hear from other Dads as to what it means to be a Dad in their own words. I’d even love to hear from Mom’s who want to share how they view the meaning of being a Dad through the eyes of their own Dad’s or Husbands and Partners. Please offer your thoughts in the comments section below and I’ll look forward to reading them!
Being a dad is something that takes a lifetime. But only needing a blink of an eye to love more than anything.Dad will give his only drink of water or move from the heat and let his child stay warm.
Thanks Byron for the comments. They are greatly appreciated and well stated.
Being a dad is not a simple as conceiving a child. A dad is the hardest but most rewarding job a man can get.A dad protects as well as letting your child make his own mistakes.but not judge only teach. A dad is the one who know its not about him anymore.A dad is the one who gives his last drink of water,or moves away from the heat to let his child get warm. A dads job may not have any benefits, but dad knows that his benefits are seen when he looks into his child’s eyes.
From one Ajacian to another, you have written a wonderful article. Everything you have mentioned is so key to being a father. I was reflecting what a father provides to a family in my own blog when I saw your blog. Attending a father’s day dinner yesterday at my brother’s house sparked the subject for my blog today when my brother commented that father’s day is really not necessary. I disagree. I think fathers should be celebrated and are needed for their children just as much as their mother. Great list!
Thank you Anne! It’s great to hear feedback from Mom’s as well as Dad’s…and as for being a fellow Ajacian – so much the better!! Thanks again…
Many of those ring true for me. Another for me is sharing in their likes and intetests, not just me sharing mine.
Being a Dad means being never being afraid to openly share your weaknesses and mistakes with your children so they can learn and grow from hearing them.
Thanks Paul….agreed.
Being a Dad means setting aside things that previously seemed all important to focus on what is truly important.
Being a Dad brings opportunities to experience phrases such as “heart full of joy” and “heart wrapped around their little finger” and “heart in your mouth” and “heart swelled with pride”.
Being a Dad is a sure chance at being loved unconditionally and a chance to love unconditionally.
Being a Dad means sometimes being surprised to hear words come out of your mouth that your Dad uttered.
Being a Dad is the most important, most rewarding, best paying job you will ever have.
Happy Father’s Day, Eric.
Thanks for the wonderful comments and insights Don! Your work in the community and your role as a Father and Big Brother are well known and you are someone that all Dad’s should look to as an example of how to do it right!
Have a Happy Father’s Day my friend!
This is an excellent article.
I couldn’t summarize what being a dad to me is in just a couple of words, or paragraphs.
Thanks Darryl – yes, sometimes it’s real hard to put into words what being a Dad really means.
Happy Father’s Day!
Being a Dad . . . hmm, good question. The best answer I can give is by using my father (and mother) as an example. My sister and I were both adopted as infants, so being a father means changing your life to create a life. Thanks Dad, and I miss you.
There’s nothing like having great examples to emulate. Thanks Bill for your comments.
Being a dad means being part of something bigger than me. It is my everything.
My Dad is my world! Having a solid relationship with your father growing up especially for a girl means a lot. You tend to pick a good boyfriend or husband because of it also. No wonder I’m single!! He has raised the bar so high that nobody really impresses me! hahaha.
Thanks Jacqueline – and you are absolutely right in that a father’s role with his daughter is absolutely critical! I hope I can be as good a father to my daughter as your father was to you…
Being a Dad ….Hmmm……reminding them that life’s journey holds many teachings…some understood right when they happen and others in time….it takes our whole lifetime becoming who we are…..always keep learning….never give up …life is good !
Thanks Alex – great input!