Parenting Parenting

Whos Your Daddy? How to be a Great Dad in 5 to 7 Minutes


I am a dad. I have been now for over 8 years. And I suppose I don't know just everything there is to know about being a dad, good bad or otherwise.

I have learned a couple of things though.

My wife, Susan and I had been married for about 6 years before my daughter, my oldest child Andrea was born. I cut the umbilical cord and almost immediately began to wonder how I was going to teach her. How could I lead her. How was I going to be the all knowing FATHER figure, I was sure I was supposed to be.

I wondered if I would have the wisdom in me to guide her through life's biggest decisions.

How could I lead her as she chose a career when I still wasn't sure what I wanted to be when I grew up?

How could I instill in her the wisdom necessary to choose a husband when my own wonderful marriage was a series of happy accidents, blind commitment and amazing providence.

How could I help her find her way spiritually and morally. The questions I anticipated were just so DEEEEEPPPP! And I was just so shallow.

I know now that you start with the small stuff.

When Susan and I first found that we were going to have a baby, I got involved. we read books. We went to Lamaze classes. I was going to be the amazingly capable husband and coach in the delivery room. When the time came, I was barely able to stand up at the head of the delivery bed, hold Susan's hand and keep from passing out.

When we had our second child, Alizabeth , I was more experienced. I was a little more capable. When our son Steven arrived I was an old pro and when our fourth baby came to us the doctor actually told me I would have to move over so she could perform the delivery instead of me. I still think I could have delivered Abigail myself.

When you first become a parent, you start with the diapers and learn to protect your baby and allow them to grow. What I learned is that you can grow with them.

You don't have to know how to guide their career choices. You have to teach them to finish what they start and to love a job well done.

You don't have to teach your children to wisely choose a spouse, you have to let them know that they have intrinsic worth with or without Mr. or Mrs. right.

You don't have to answer all of the big spiritual and moral questions. You have to teach them to love God and to love others.

If you can start with holding your wife's hand and keep from passing out, you can move on to the big stuff when you're ready

Steve Brummet is a communication expert, writer and speaker who works with all types of organizations to increase understanding of communication styles.

Better communication can help you and your organization reduce stress and increase productivity. For more information on one of our workshops, please feel free to call or write.

http://www.communicationspeaker.com
steve@stevebrummet.com
972-548-6048
214-578-4172


MORE RESOURCES:
  • Should you monitor your child's music choices?
  • My mother spent her formative years in a convent boarding school in India where, when it came to popular music, anything other than Pat Boone was off limits. When I was a tween, my mom allowed me to buy Madonna's...
  • Parenting chat transcript
  • Barbara Meltz took your parenting and child-caring questions on Monday. Click the "Replay" button below to read a transcript of the chat. Parenting chat with Barbara Meltz...
  • Treating autism: Diet, ABA, and other interventions
  • No one really knows what causes autism. A recent article in Science Direct indicates that children living near toxic waste seem more likely to have autism. Though the thimerosal/MMR vaccine theory has been debunked, many parents feel that the mercury-laced...
  • Interviewing a new babysitter? 15 questions to ask
  • I ran into a problem recently, when my youngest kids' school and day care were closed, my husband was away, I had to work, and I had no backup childcare. Yeah, it made for a tough day....
  • Inside the mind of a child with autism
  • The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1 out of 150 kids have autism, an increase from previous estimates. With autism now more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined, if your child isn't on the...
  • A birthday party dilemma: Invite the whole class, or not?
  • My 4-year-old has become a bit of a social butterfly, flitting from playdate to birthday party to after-school adventure in the cul-de-sac with the neighbors. Which is great, except now I'm faced with a birthday party dilemma: Invite the whole...
  • Autism Awareness: Resources that can help
  • Kent and Angie Potter's oldest son, Sam, was born prematurely, and from the very beginning they had a swirl of doctors and specialists around them, helping them navigate the world of preemie development. So when Sam started exhibiting severe developmental...


  • Salad Spinner Art
  • Spin art is a little messy, but it's a fun painting activity for older toddlers.
  • Color Cards
  • Your child will enjoy matching cards of the same color in this cooperative activity.
  • Fishy Beanbag
  • This easy-to-make beanbag has a real fish shape, complete with open mouth and gills.
  • Artwork Display
  • This magnetic ruler will let you display your child's artwork on the refrigerator.
  • Wax Paper Art
  • This tempera paint art project is a safe alternative to grated crayons and an iron.
  • Smashing Towers
  • Toddlers love to build things and then knock them down.
  • Ten Little Gentlemen
  • Have your toddler use his fingers to represent the gentlemen in this rhyme.


    home | SITEMAP © parenting.smatix.com 2006       LINKS       disclaimer |       Privacy Policy