Part of the responsibility of being a father is to establish a strong foundation for the family. Just like a building foundation, much of this work goes unseen and rarely gets acknowledged, yet the strength and integrity of the entire structure relies on it. The following intentions, although not always perfectly fulfilled, give us guidance in our mission.
Grounded in Reality
While my children may put me on a pedestal, I have my feet firmly on the ground and acknowledge my own strengths and weaknesses.
Demonstrative Love
I take the time to know and understand the best way to communicate my love to each and every child. My children see my love for my wife clearly expressed.
Mutual Respect.
By honoring and never ridiculing the thoughts, emotions and actions of my family, each member clearly experiences and understands my great respect for them.
Consistently Predictable.
My family is comforted and anchored by my predictability. My deepest values are consistently
demonstrated in my speech and behavior.
Predictable Spontaneity.
My family knows that I am extremely curious and love to explore and learn. My spontaneity is
consistent. We plan with flexibility, and the children look forward to unexpected adventures.
Responsible.
My children see how I prepare and follow through, owning up to my responsibilities. They learn by my example.
Safety/Security
I take safety very seriously and my children know it. They have learned by my examples, for instance: I always wear a helmet when skating, skiing or bicycle riding, and I take first-aid and CPR classes. Our car does not go into motion until all seat belts, including mine, are on. Primary
Advocate
My children know that I stand behind them and will protect, defend and honor them at all times. I do not discuss my children's failings with others.
Serious Humor
I deliberately use humor liberally to lighten stress and lubricate relationships to ensure a cohesive family.
WYSIWYG What you see is what you get.
I practice what I preach and that includes accepting human frailty and mistakes. The greatest foundation for a family is living with integrity.
Copyright 2004 by CoachVille, Dovid Grossman and Ken Mossman
Duplication, with attribution, permitted and encouraged.
www.coachville.com
From CoachVille's "Awesome Dads, dare to be a hero!" community.
Check us out at: www.coachville.com
About The Author
My father was a very successful engineer. But he and I never got along, and we fought all the time. One day, when I was 17, I told him, "I always wanted a close relationship with you, but we don't have it." I watched as three tears squeezed out of his pained eyes. And he said, "I've always wanted that, too, but I just don't know how to do it." Since that day, we haven't argued. I got it. I understood his love for me was really deep. A lot of fathers are in the same boat. They love their kids dearly. But they don't know how to express this in a way that their kids understand it. Which means there's great pain in one of the most important relationships in their lives. I offer adventure, mentoring and coaching programs for fathers to become Awesome Dads. The benefits are a lifetime of pleasure and pride with the most important people in their lives. Dovid Grossman
recurring cleaning service Mundelein ..Children think money grows on trees. Maybe not literally, but... Read More
There are several treatment options available to help improve the... Read More
As parents, we love our children and want to do... Read More
Reading to your child at a young age is one... Read More
Research published by University of Rochester neuroscientists C. Shawn Green... Read More
Baby names are as diverse as the people to whom... Read More
Diapers..Changing a dirty diaper is not the best part of... Read More
What one word best sums up summer fun? Water. I... Read More
Something eerily familiar happened in KwaZulu-Natal's Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park in Africa... Read More
There are moments in a parent's or grandparent's life, when... Read More
When growing up, my father frequently reminded me to "pay... Read More
Drivers 16 years of age have little driving experience, putting... Read More
Hope, excitement and anxiety all wrapped up in fresh haircuts... Read More
From the book Spider's Night on the BoomI've only begun... Read More
Everyone needs friends, and, as parents, you and I both... Read More
Keith is now in the fourth grade and he dislikes... Read More
Once, as a Learning Support Teacher, I made my way... Read More
Once upon a time, I thought I had it all.... Read More
There are only two ways to get more money:1) Increase... Read More
1 - Forgive even if you will never be able... Read More
How can two or three children in the same family... Read More
Imagine having no television for an entire season. Such was... Read More
The distressed adolescent often has feelings of abandonment, emotional detachment,... Read More
Several similar terms describe the central attribute of a character... Read More
Many children who suffer from the psychological effects of child... Read More
tidy up service Buffalo Grove ..Drivers 16 years of age have little driving experience, putting... Read More
The snow was getting heavier with each lift of the... Read More
You do what you can to keep your little ones... Read More
This may come as a surprise, but many parents are... Read More
Frankly, as a single parent of young children, I struggled.... Read More
Vinegar or honey, what do kids really want? "Toys, candy,... Read More
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Results of the Spanking Poll on Rexanne.com: Voters - 233Percentage... Read More
How bad is the illegal drug problem here in the... Read More
As a hypnotherapist, I am acutely aware of the power... Read More
I wanted to share with you one of the most... Read More
1. The Law of the BeastAs parents we need to... Read More
What is Happening in the brain of children, teens, and... Read More
I really like all natural remedy for Attention Deficit Disorder... Read More
An estimated five million scooters will be sold this year... Read More
Being a parent is a role that requires a large... Read More
O.K. I've heard it a hundred times from my prison... Read More
Think back to your own childhood. Chances are, some of... Read More
In school, kids are encouraged to create, draw, color, paint... Read More
When my son was 18 (and had finished school), he... Read More
1. Encourage Questions.Don't answer every question, instead ask what do... Read More
Having a babysitter take care of your kids is sometimes... Read More
So you're going to become a father. Now is not... Read More
Voices have a way of falling into a pattern, not... Read More
Ritalin is a good medication with a bad reputation. Its... Read More
As a mother of two sets of fraternal boy/girl twins,... Read More
Parenting |