How do you remember your father?

It’s an unfortunate fact of life that parenthood comes with no instructions. It can be tough to balance everything in life, especially since every father-child relationship has its own unique challenges. Although there are no clear-cut methods to successful parenthood, there are some habits you can develop as a father to ensure that you are prioritizing the right things, and to guarantee that your family sees you as a real hero.
1- Being consistent It may seem like children love the inconsistency of chaos, but what kids really need the most is a solid structure to learn and grow from. For that reason, consistency in parenting is vital to a child's sense of security, and integral to their behavioral development.There are two important aspects to behaving consistently as a father. The first is to ensure that what you say is actually what you do. Every child needs to believe she has a dependable father, so if you promise you’ll make it to the soccer game or take her to the zoo or make her favorite dinner, it’s important to follow through no matter what comes up in the meantime. If your child believes your word, trust will soon follow. The second side to consistency is structure in discipline. Remember that your kids aren’t perfect -- despite what you may think -- and they need guidance. It can be hard to discipline your children because you’re ready to stand at their defense no matter what. But remember that rules and structure are important in life and the earlier they learn that, the easier their lives will be. Rules are there for a reason and you need to make sure your children understand this.
2- Scheduling family recreation Although it's necessary to work hard all week, you also need to plan some fun activities for downtime and stick to them. It is far too easy to just assume that family time will come naturally when the weekend arrives. Unfortunately, work spillover, visits from family members or home improvement projects -- just to name a few scenarios -- can easily take that time away.Not to mention that as your kids develop their own social schedules, they’ll quickly let quality time with their families slip away. For this reason, advanced planning is crucial in maintaining this important aspect of your family life. Just like you’ll keep New Year’s resolutions more often if you write them down as a promise, making appointments with your family will make time with them a priority -- for both you and them.
3- Keeping stress to yourself This can be difficult, but the fact is there are better outlets for your stress than your children. Kids shouldn’t have to be burdened with adult troubles. They have enough to deal with just being kids; growing, learning, exploring, and evolving. Rather than sharing your difficulties with them, keep your time with them about them. Try to keep your work or financial stress to yourself and don’t let it affect your attitude when you’re around your kids.Teaching them and being involved will help you succeed... Next >>