June 15, 2010 Posted By: Mark Merrill

10 Ways to Know You are Being a Good Father

Most men want to be good dads. But we struggle sometimes with how to practically make that happen. So, here are some things I just jotted down that may help us on our fatherhood journey.

10 Ways to know you are being a good father:

1. When your calendar is full of things to do with your children

2. When you admit when you are wrong and ask your children to forgive you

3. When you take an interest in their friends and know their names

4. When you eat together with your children

5. When you take an interest in what they enjoy doing

6. When you show affection to your wife in front of them

7. When you advocate that they speak to you and each other respectfully

8. When your son or daughter comes running to you when they get hurt

9. When you calmly and gently discipline your children without yelling or screaming

10. When you tuck your children into bed at night and tell them “I love you”

What do you think?  Would your share your ideas as well?

Thanks,

Mark

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  • Nick Thummel

    1) when you listen & answer all of the questions your young child poses.
    2) when you love them enough to fall down & are there waiting to pick them up.

  • http://www.strongfathers.com Mikehall

    When they attack you when you get home but don't hang onto you when you have to leave. They love you when you arrive and they are not scared that you will not return.

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Mike, well said!

    Nick, being a good listener is definitely critical!

  • Jeffrey Proper

    Sing to your young children, even if you don't have a good voice!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dawn-Stroscheim-Holloway/100000990464690 Dawn Stroscheim-Holloway

    I watch my husband Jeff get down on the floor with our 2 year old and color pictures with her. I guess I want to add
    Giving up your personal comfort and plans for your self to get down on the floor to play.

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Dawn, that's awesome that your husband does that with your child.

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Jeffrey…I always sang to my kids when they were younger…I definitely don't have a good voice! :)

  • http://twitter.com/bigfatmama1 Big Fat Mama

    When a father walks the walk and talks the talk he doesn't have to say or do anything sometimes, but his children follow in his footsteps and imitate the real and honest man that he is.

  • http://twitter.com/bqualms Brian E. Johnson

    i'm the big bad wolf and my kids are little red riding hoods….little red, middle red and big red…lots of fun we have together!

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Hey Big Fat Mama, leading by example is so important!

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Brian, sounds fun!

  • http://www.trevsnetbiz.com Trevor Mason

    Give them love. Then give them some more love. And then give them a bunch more. Love Your Kids and follow Mark's list of 10 because that list is the best way to give your kids love. Great list, Mark.

  • http://www.mindamics.com Buck

    Over the years my motto has been “I'm the dad I wish I had,” and “I'm the son I hope to have.” The reason I say that is becusause my dad was a minister who was always busy “meeting the needs of the congregation.” Consequently, we never played catch with a baseball or football. We never went to any pro sporting events together, he never took me fishing…and the list goes on and on.

    After I was grown and out of the house, he came to realize that the missed out on getting to know me. Today he's 80 and I've worked through my resentments from my youth. He lives 100 miles away but I make sure I go see him at least twice a month to do all the hard chores around his house that he can no longer do.

    Nowdays, when I go visit him, he always says how much he regrets not spending more time with me, and my brother and sister when we were younger. He also says that I'm the best son in the world and he loves me more than I'll ever know.

    So, its easy to understand why I say “I'm the dad I wish I had.” But the second part of my motto is the key piece (I'm the son I hope to have.) By showing my son how much I love my parents and how often I go visit them I'm showing my son how I'd like him to treat me when I'm 80.

  • camj

    When you are just as much their hero after they graduate from college as when they graduated from training wheels on their first bike.

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Trevor, thanks for your encouragement! It's all about love!

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Camj…so true!

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Everyone…read Bucks post…awesome! His motto is “I'm the dad I wish I had,” and “I'm the son I hope to have.”

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Buck, I need to share this with all of our friends on Facebook also. What is your Facebook handle? Have you “liked” me?

  • http://soulfari.blogspot.com/ Jay Cookingham

    I love your list, so much truth!

    This is my list…

    Seven Promises from Your Dad

    I am committed to love you always.
    I am committed to display my love for you.
    I am committed to lead by example and help you
    grow in the character of Christ.
    I am committed to help prepare you to be a person of
    purity in heart, body and soul.
    I am committed to know you, your dreams, gifts, and
    help you explore all your God given abilities.
    I am committed to help you confront and conquer
    your fears and weaknesses.
    I am committed to love and honor your mom all the days of my life.

  • Rmote

    I love the list. It is impossible to make the list happen without including God. I'm prayerful that the God will fill the void in the heart's of my children when I fall short.

  • http://www.FamilyMinute.com/ Mark Merrill

    Jay, those are some neat promises. Thanks for sharing!

  • Tiah4cristo

    Love it! Now go ahead and type it and sent it off to a card company or Family Christian stores …so they can make it a plaque and share…Love it!

  • http://childsafesites.blogspot.com Concerned Parent

    Thank you for posting this. I believe that sometimes we are caught up in our lives and day to day issues that we sometimes forget about the basics of just being Dad. I have read so much on being a father and I believe that to be a father it does take education. Some of this is built into a man but why not learn more from others who are living it as well.

    I have posted similar type of blogs on my website and believe that the more we share the more we improve our world and the world of our children

    Thank you again