Moms Make the Best Dads

All I have ever needed to know about parenting I can pretty safely say I learned from my mother. That's not to say my father figures (I had two, more on that later) didn't do a bang-up job at making me the father I am today, they did an excellent job in their own right, but all the little details that parents should have in their tool kit I got from my mom. This is why I put together a few tips for new dads on how to navigate the murky parenting waters with a little less stress, and how to make it more probable for a son or a daughter to care for you when you're old and senile...

• Your child needs you

That may seem like a fairly obvious statement, but it isn't. It can be pretty tough waking up in the middle of the night for a 2:00 am feeding. The first two nights may not seem all that challenging, but they will take their toll after a week or so. I managed to keep my sanity not by thinking it would "soon be a thing of the past", but by putting myself in my baby's place and trying to see the world through his eyes. Everything is new and scary and even at my ripe old age of 38, there's nothing like waking up to a familiar face; imagine what it feels like to a 2 or 3 month old. My mother sacrificed many hours of sleep just to comfort me at that age (or so I'm told), and I can't think of a better way to establish a feeling of security at such an early stage in life.

• There's nothing like your child's smile

Every little baby is the cutest in the world. I know because my baby is, and when he flashes his magnificently toothless smile at me I'm not ashamed to say my heart just melts. My mother always made an effort to make me happy. Do that for your son, it's a really good thing and creates a bond that will surely pay off nicely in the future.

• Stay positive

This is one of the hardest things to do when your offspring is being difficult or going through difficult times. Whether he's three months or thirteen (my wife and I have one of each), it is imperative that your outlook on life and it's intricacies be semper positive. We all go through rough spots, even the most talented, gifted and beautiful have their bad days. Now wouldn't it be nice to know there's always someone you can go to that will listen to your problems and look for a way to see the glass as half full? In my case it was... you guessed it, mom. She, to this day, consistently has a way to see the bright side. I've seen it work both as a child and as a father. My stepson has completely changed his view on a situation based simply on my silver lining view of a situation. It won't work for every single one of life's moments, but the more you practice it, the more you can apply it.

• Keep the family together

Yes, you're a dad and assuming you live in a traditional household your job is to bring home the bacon, but don't let your wife carry the burden of keeping it all together. When you signed up you signed up as a team, now it's time to put it to work. Help lighten the load, think of stories to tell at the dinner table - and while I'm on the subject, make it a point to eat as a family at the dinner table at least 5 times a week - play frequently with your child and in the grand scheme of things, it really won't hurt to let your kid have the extra ice cream sandwich every once in a while. Show your family you love them, not just hard character building love, but affectionate love. Be tough enough to be gentle, your kids will love you for it... eventually.

There are many things that make up a great dad. I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful father and a not any less amazing step-father. They taught me everything from changing spark plugs to changing light bulbs and all the things a typical man should know how to do. But it was my mother who taught me to love my children, to put their best interests ahead of mine and to always strive to be the best "dad" I could be. I hope that you as a new dad will take a little bit of this information and make it your own so that someday your kids will think of you and recognize your devotion... when you're old and senile.