How to be a good father? Top ten tips and suggestions!

‘That’s the thankless position of the father in the family- the provider for all and the enemy of all –J.August Strindberg

It is sad that your role as a father is always underestimated. You too play a vital role in shaping the character of your children. There are times when you feel that you are overlooked by your family. It makes you sad and dejected that you are not properly understood by your children.

You do love your children but you do not know the trick of showing your love in the proper way.

You are harsh and strict with your children which alienates you from them. You do not understand that you should strike an emotional chord with your children if you want reciprocal love from them. You should see eye to eye with your children and interact with them in a friendly manner.

1. Patience is a key ingredient

If you are impatient and yell at your children you can never have friendly relationship with them. You should come down to their level to see the world through their eyes. When they come up to you with their problems, you should understand that what appears as trivial in your view is a major issue in their yet- to –mature- mind.

2. Unwind with the children

Are you a father who comes home from work and wants to be left alone to have some rest? Then you are missing something precious in your life! Spending quality time with your children can give you intense pleasure. You should realize that your children have been eagerly waiting for your arrival so that they can have fun with you. Do not spoil their mood and shoo them away. Instead satisfy their eagerness by unwinding with them.

3. Never fight with your wife in front of your children.

They never understand the reason for your fights with your wife. But they develop a very bad image of you as a person who ill treats their mother. Whatever arguments you have with your wife should be had when your children are not there.

4. Help them in their home work

Your children adore you when you help them in their studies. Do you feel it is the duty of your wife to take care of their education? A very wrong attitude! You too should take interest in their studies and you should help your wife in preparing the children for school. Look after them with willingness and see the happy glow of your children.

5. Smile at your children.

Are you a father who always has his lips turned down in gloominess? Then your children will avoid you. Children adore their father when he smiles and laughs with them. Not an impossible task, is it? Share jokes with them, play around with them and watch them enjoy it.

6. Your children are from you, but not you.

Do not thrust your ideas on them and make them feel pressed down with a helpless feeling of intrusion into their independence. Let them evolve their own way and decide their own life. You should be a guide and not a decision maker.

7. Take them for outing.

Forget all your worries and give your children enjoyment by behaving like a happy –go-lucky -father. It will give a boost to your image as a kind and indulgent father. Take them out, buy them things they want and make them enjoy every moment of it.

8. Be the first person to help your children in their time of need.

You should build confidence in them that they can depend on you to guide them in the right path. They should also be assured that they have a warm shoulder to lean on in their times of stress.

9. Appreciate your children

Your children want to do better and better when you appreciate them. Even the small things they do should be appreciated by you. When you appreciate them they become more assertive and confident in their life.

10. Be strict when there is need.

When your children does something wrong, do not overlook it. You should tell them firmly where they went wrong and advice them to correct themselves.

‘All fathers are invisible in daytime; daytimes are ruled by mothers and fathers come out at night. Darkness brings home fathers, with their real unspeakable power. There is more to eyes than meets the eye.’ Margaret Atwood, Cat’s Eye

You should always be a role model to your children. They become what you are! So it is essential that you present an image of a person with good manners, honesty and trust worthiness. Your children will always imitate you. Never fail them!