Fast Lane Fathering

I have never been a Father, but I had a Father and have had the opportunity to observe some wonderful Fathers (including my amazing partner, who deserves a lion’s share of the credit for this blog) along the way.

Through all of my experiences, there seem to be some ‘golden rules’ of memorable Fathering.  I would love to share them with you:

Life is busy. Make your moments count.

There is a lot of pressure that comes with Fatherhood, including protecting, providing and partnering.  Dads, as tough as they might seem on the surface, do a delicate dance between these three.  This means that you may not get as much time (in hours and minutes) as you would like, but you can certainly ensure that interactions are positive and meaningful.

Routines create lasting memories.

For as long as I can remember, I shared special little games and sayings with my Dad and Grandpa.  One of my special childhood memories is when Grandpa would load me into the little red wagon and pull me around to ‘fish’ the leaves on the front lawn!  I recall hours of fun when Dad would get down on all fours and my brother and I would climb onto Dad’s back to ride the ‘horse’.  We would hang on tight until he toppled us onto the carpet in a fit of laughter. The interesting thing is that children love repetition, and these games and sayings never get old.  Quite the opposite, they become a special connection and something to which we look forward. What special little routines and rituals do you share with your children?

Laughter is the glue.

Some Dads, Pa’s, Stepfathers and ‘Nonnos’ are jollier than others, but the one thing that most have in common is the ability to make children laugh.  Laughing together releases endorphins and creates strong bonds.  The best Fathers I know love to joke, laugh and impersonate the tickle monster.   After all, who can resist a corny ‘Dad joke’?

Last but not least, a special shout out to all the new Dads out there: the best is yet to come! Some of the ideas in this article might just help you get started on the right track: https://raisingchildren.net.au/grown-ups/fathers/early-days/new-dads-10-tips

On this Father’s Day and every day, remember to treasure every moment because your children will never forget the time you share.