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 ..Q. I need your help with a question about my... Read More
Despite the theory that people have kids because they want... Read More
1. Make stronger connections among individuals and, therefore, creates a... Read More
Imagine a child who lacks ownership of his own life,... Read More
Not Letting Them Think.We all implicitly know that anything questioning... Read More
Researched through personal experience!Budget Your Money. Even if you are... Read More
Every year over one million parents have to talk to... Read More
The formula is pretty straightforward: energy in/energy out. This is... Read More
You know that children can get into trouble. The older... Read More
Ah, potty training! Go to a local bookseller and you... Read More
Maintaining a safe home environment for your childrenAs adults and... Read More
It was a day that I will forever be etched... Read More
We take it for granted that children know how money... Read More
A small town, somewhere in the world, was managed by... Read More
Teens don't learn responsibility overnight. If you haven't been working... Read More
Life is full of competition -- even in childhood. Kids... Read More
The Greatest Gifts in Life, which are always created for... Read More
I will cherish this moment. I will not let it... Read More
The hot new reality TV show "Nanny 911" has been... Read More
Mommy (Daddy), Why do those people want to hurt everyone?Last... Read More
There are few thoughts as terrifying as the abduction of... Read More
According to the American Sleep Association 70% of all babies... Read More
Thank you for all that you do in the classroom!... Read More
For over fifty years, public-school officials and politicians have tried... Read More
The last decade has seen heightened interest in and awareness... Read More
tidy up service Buffalo Grove ..Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 31,... Read More
Despite serious reductions in funding for arts programs in... Read More
Have you ever sat and watch a child struggle with... Read More
Often, the struggle at dinnertime with your picky eater is... Read More
Non-compliance is the family therapist's big word for your child... Read More
Parents are losing their self-control to anger. A friend called... Read More
The time you will need to teach your children the... Read More
Those of you that have children know what an excursion... Read More
Remember when cash was a tangible commodity in all of... Read More
Many families do not want to believe their child is... Read More
My neighbours' kid impressed me the other day.I was busy... Read More
I remember watching my 18-month-old son eat a big frosted... Read More
A strange thing happened to me today. Or more precisely,... Read More
Although nothing anybody says can ever completely prepare a woman... Read More
She slipped her small, soft eight-year-old hand into mine. Her... Read More
From criticizing a spouse, to claming up about one's own... Read More
Thank you to all of our professional educators who dedicate... Read More
So you're going to become a father. Now is not... Read More
Having been a parent educator and a PBS consultant for... Read More
Annie easily slipped into becoming the sole caregiver of her... Read More
Have you ever had this struggle with your teens? Did... Read More
Sometimes a change of perspective can make a huge difference... Read More
Working with adults (as well as children and teens) for... Read More
I love Google and Yahoo. With Google and Yahoo I... Read More
Love, love, love. It makes the world go round. It... Read More
Parenting |