Fatherhood is more than just the biological connection that you have with a child. It’s more than providing for your child financially, and it’s more than being physically present in the home. Fathers play such an important role in molding their children into the people that they are supposed to be that whether they are there physically or not, their influence will have lasting effects in the lives of their children.
And this is why I love the recent article written by author Shawn Taylor where he shares what fatherhood means to him based on his own personal experiences. From Acceptance to Zealous, Shawn captures the very essence of fatherhood, from the importance of being a good example for your kids by modeling kindness to the importance to following through on promises.
Fatherhood is….
“Acceptance: I’m a father. I have to own the responsibilities that come along with the title. No more being selfish.
Breathing: I have to be constantly mindful of how I breathe. Fatherhood is like yoga: You have to know how to breathe and stretch properly or you’ll damage yourself.
Curiosity: You have to be open to new experiences. The more curious you are, the more you can teach your child.
Daddy: This is my new name. It is also an on switch. As soon as I hear it, depending on the tone, I immediately know what actions I need to take. (Hard won wisdom.)
Ego: It has no place in parenting. You have to be humble enough to see the lessons as they’re happening.
Friends: You will lose some of them. For whatever reason, some of your closest friends will no longer be in your life. Some think of babies as a kind of social kryptonite. Some will lament that they no longer have someone they can party with. Oh, well.
Gibberish: Baby talk is a cancer that needs to be removed from any interactions with your baby. Use real words.
Hero: This is who I am to my daughter. I have to never violate this sacred position in her life.
Ignorance: Admitting that I don’t have all (if any) answers is liberating.”
To read the remainder of the list, check out Shawn’s article, The ABCs of Fatherhood, on EBONY.com
BMWK – how would you define fatherhood? Is there anything that you would add to this list? What made your father or spouse a good father?
Allen @ Funny Baby Videos says
Good message about being a father. The problem is that the bad fathers out there won’t read this post.