Being a father is not an easy task. At all. You struggle to provide for your family and also try to be there for your children. That can be tough. The following are some tips that have worked for some fathers and can also work for you as well.
Make Time for Your Family
If you do not spend significant amounts of time with your children, they might conclude that you care more for other things, such as your job, your friends, or your hobbies, than you do for them. You need to show your children that they are important to you. Even when your child is still in the womb, you should start to form a relationship with them. A father can listen to the baby’s heartbeat, feel it kick, talk to it, and sing to it. From infancy, he should be personally involved in the education of his children. Not just paying their fees. Spend time with them. This will go a long way in impacting their lives. The things you teach your children will impact them more than what they learn in school.
Be a Good Communicator
In order to communicate effectively with your children, you must be a careful listener. You need to cultivate the ability to listen without overreacting. If your children think that you will lose your temper quickly and be judgmental, they will have little incentive to express their inner feelings to you. But if you listen to them calmly, you will show that you are genuinely interested in them. They will in turn be far more likely to share their precious thoughts and feelings with you.
Give Loving Discipline and Commendation
Even when you feel frustrated or angry, the discipline you administer should be an expression of loving concern for the long-term welfare of your child. It includes advice, correction, education, and chastisement when needed. Furthermore, discipline is much more effective when a father commends his children regularly. Commendation enriches a child’s character. A father who looks for opportunities to give commendations will help to build confidence in his children and motivate them not to give up trying to do what is right.
Love and Respect Your Wife
The way a father exercises his role as a husband is certain to affect children. The way a man treats his wife will guarantee whether his children will respect him or not. When parents respect each, it provides a secure environment for their children.
The above principles don’t guarantee that you’ll be a good father. You may try all the foregoing and still not succeed. However, they have helped many people and can also help you too.
