What It Means To Be A Dad

What It Means To Be A Dad

 

A mother and a father – we all started here. We have this in common. Most of us have great memories of our parents. And an unfortunate few don’t. Regardless, there always seems to be a deep innate love for the two people that gave us life.

As Father’s Day approaches this Sunday, it brings back memories when I was younger.

But now, with one son of my own, Father’s Day has become more and more meaningful each year. In today’s article, “What It Means To Be A Dad,” I want to share 3 favorite moments  with my Dad. I also want to share 3 favorite parts of being a dad, and then I have an action step for you. Let’s dive in.

First off, my father is an extremely gregarious man. He knows EVERYONE and everyone knows him. His presence is felt from a mile away and he genuinely cares about people.  My father has a lot of great ‘fatherly’ traits. He has 2 kids (yes, I still count my sister even though she is in a better place now).

3 Favorite Memories of My Dad:

• Shopping together for his birthday card. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up. So we would go to the store when I was young and we would read birthday cards together. I remember laughing so hard with him.
• “Don’t be like an ostrich.” I used to spend a lot of time in my Dad’s Nissan. He would be driving me somewhere… soccer games, football practice, basketball, baseball… you name it. And whenever he would make me laugh (he tried often), I would look out the window so that he couldn’t see me. But he still knew. And he would joke that when an ostrich sticks his head in the ground, his butt would stick straight up in the air. And I would just laugh even more until my shoulders would be moving with uncontrollable laughter.
• Time. My Dad attended every single game and most every practice.

Fast forward to today. I have one son Tyler (2.5).  My first thought is always “I don’t know how my Mom and Dad had 2, because 1 is hard enough!”

And as Father’s Day 2013 approaches this weekend, here are 3 of my favorite “moments” with my son now.

• Morning routine. I eat breakfast with Tyler every morning. The time spent with Tyler in the morning is precious and I savor every minute. We typically talk about animals and  I often have a “word of the day” or “number of the day” in the 20-minute drive to daycare. Really, it’s just about connecting and sharing. And I laugh. And I look in the rearview mirror and I see him smiling (and not looking out the window!).
• Travel. My son loves to travel and he LOVES hotel rooms. I’m not sure why, but I think it’s the newness and adventure of going to new places. I love the look of curiosity on his face when we arrive someplace for the first time. My hope is he continues to have this zest, zeal, and insatiable appetite for travel and adventure all through his life. It’s an important part of our growth and development, our cultural understanding and our appreciation for others. It’s an important part of LIVING.
• Bedtime rituals. I love hearing a “download” about his day. What he did at daycare,  and any other random thoughts that imaginative young minds have.

We say our prayers. Ty say’s, “I’m so happy, I can do anything.”

Parenting isn’t easy. And if you’re a parent, you know what I’m talking about. Parenting is undoubtedly the hardest job I’ve ever had.

And probably one of the hardest parts of parenting is PATIENCE. As a family of 2 or 5 or 10, you have to work as a team. And on any given day, someone is bound to be struggling – tired, moody, sometimes just overwhelmed with trying to grow up (and I don’t just mean the kids!). Family life is not for wimps. You set high expectations and expect things to get done. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t… So we continue to work harder to help each other grow.

Wow! You don’t need to be a parent to empathize with this. PATIENCE truly is a virtue in all aspects of life. I could be talking to teachers, coaches, businesspeople… leaders of all kinds. Daily life tests our patience and we could all stand to improve in this area. We could be more loving. We could be more tolerant. We could be more giving. We could be more patient. What “more” could you be?

This week is Father’s Day week. And whether or not you are a parent, it’s a great time to reflect on our parents (living or deceased) and to remember special memories.

And if you are a Father, Happy Father’s Day! Keep leading, loving, and creating special moments with your kids – no matter what their ages. After all, we must “always do our best…and NEVER give up.”

One thing I learned from my Dad is the most important thing you can show your children is love. And the way you spell LOVE is T.I.M.E.

Create a great week.

Marty

PS. Attention Moms and Dads: I would love to hear your stories and rituals too. Share a favorite memory of your Dad or a favorite moment with your kids in the Comments section below (Moms welcome too!).