Fathers: A Little Something for You

Many homes are blessed with loving fathers. In fact, I have many fond memories of my father as well as many other men who were exemplary fathers to their children. I have nieces and nephews who are blessed with great dads. Today, my children are blessed with a wonderful father.

Maybe you are a young father or recently became a father and might be wondering how in the world you will fit in such a shoe when maybe your own father has been very distant or was never even around. Yes, it’s a huge responsibility to raise a child but stay encouraged and wear your own shoe. In other words, be the best father that you can be knowing that in the eyes of your little boy or girl, you are the best daddy in the whole world. You could always seek out other trusted and respected fathers as role models and take counsel from them while prayerfully seeking God’s guidance as you parent your little ones.

Even though a father’s role is a serious God-given responsibility, children often look forward to having lots of memorable experiences with their father, and rightly so. As a father your role is generally known as priest, provider and protector of your home and there is no step by step manual that you can follow and that’s the beauty of it all because the door is swung wide open for your creativity within the walls of what is pure, just and true. You might want to ask yourself, what kind of father do I want my child to see me as? Or how am I bonding with my children? And what legacy, in terms of example, will I leave behind?

Here are a few TIPS of what you can do to make your father-child relationship meaningful.

T – The little things count

We are living in a world that places emphasis in acquiring big things and little emphasis is placed on the seemingly little things. However, if we shift our perspectives we would quickly realize that the little things are really big things. So fathers if you are not doing these little things get involved because it’s through the small acts of care that we make the biggest impact. You can take your children to their appointments once in a while if you are not the parent who is usually available. Find out what is their favorite color or treat. Prepare their favorite meal. Teach them how to select good food for proper nutrition.

Patiently teach your children how to complete a chore or task properly. Say a prayer with them before they go to bed and maybe even teach them a prayer. Read them a bedtime story. Find out about their friends. Help them select clothes for an event and then accompany them to the event. Remember birthdays too and even if you are unable to be with your child during special events at least give them a call. How about taking your children to school and attending a parent-child activity or spend your day off at home with your children. Instead of sending them to church you could also attend. Remember the little things count and add up to big deals! 

I – Invest in your children

Emotional and financial investments are just two of the many ways a father may invest in his children. Share in their little joys and help to dry their tears. Encourage them on cloudy days and celebrate with them on sunny days. Tell your children that you love and appreciate them. Compliment them. Nurture their unique gifts through encouragements and financial support. Even if your children are far away and might even be living in a palace, it is still your responsibility to know how they are doing and support them financially. Avoid the child support police and do the best that you can to provide whatever much or little you have.

Don’t wait until you think you have a lot of money to show up because every dollar adds up. Invest in your child’s education and put away money for future educational needs. Why not plan in advance for general upcoming needs and put away money for emergency needs. Teach your children about the value of money and help them to be good managers through your example.

P – Play and laugh

There are numerous studies that talk about the importance of play for children’s development. So play is a good way for fathers to bond with their children while enjoying some good belly cramping laughs. You can spend lots of time outdoors playing as well as often in your home and in your own backyard and guess what, it doesn’t have to be a special day.

There is nothing more pleasant than having a father who enjoys a good laugh and smiles often. My father was always telling us old time stories and giving jokes. He was very playful and fun loving and not once did I think less of his authority. In fact my love and respect grew for him even more because he knew how to have a good time. Proverbs reminds us that laughter is good medicine. So laugh and play and create wonderful memories with your children.

S – Spend quality time in abundance

We all have 24hours in a day and should make prioritizing quality time with our children a top priority. In this day and age, a million things are beckoning for our attention. Oh we have this post to make, this email to send and these text messages to read and a video to post here and there. Notice they all have to do with technology mediums or devices because nowadays that can be the biggest thief of our time. When there is access to hundreds of people at a time it is so important to create healthy boundaries. Don’t let your children remember you as someone who had no quality time for them but instead remember most of their childhood with their fathers looking through a screen!

I recently heard on a radio program where the son said he could never talk to his dad because he was always on his phone and would never even look at him when he was telling him something. So establish a no phone time with your children or no phone day if possible.

A father once told me that based on the nature of his job that demands him to talk all day with other children when he gets home he doesn’t want to talk to his own children. Now that must be one of the saddest things I have heard from a father. I remember Dr. Ben Carson saying that he has to deliberately set time for his children because there is always a brain to operate on and there will always be an emergency.

So plan ahead and include your children in your schedule. Find out how their day went and how it could have been better or what made it so exciting. Take the time to listen. Go for a ride and take walks together. Talk about your days when you were little and the things you enjoyed. Eat meals together. Be adventurous and spontaneous and take trips together. Spend quality time in abundance because they will always be your sons and daughters. Remember, they will only be a child or a teenager for a little while. 

Fathers deserve to be celebrated, loved and encouraged. It might come as a surprise to some people that there are some children who would be better cared for by their father as oppose to relatives. Remember, it is important to count the little things.  Investing, playing, laughing and spending quality time in abundance with your children. These things will contribute to bonding and happy memories.