10 Ways to be Your Child's Hero

1. You are their Superman
   Every child needs to feel secure. As their Dad, they look to you to provide that feeling at all times. When those little eyes look up at you, they see Superman. Live up to the hype.

2. Open your heart
   In society, men are expected to be strong.  This is a good thing.  However with your children, open all of yourself to them. Show them compassion, sympathy and forgiveness.  They will, in turn, do the same with their kids when they grow up.

3. Love and respect your wife
   Your children will learn how men should behave from you. Treat your wife with gentle care and the utmost respect.  You can’t love your wife perfectly, but your kids should never doubt your love for her. If your children are raised in a loving marriage, they have a great model for future relationships.

4. The bedtime story
   Young children like nothing more than to be read a story. It lights up their imaginations and gets them time with you. They also love it when you take it a step further and add sound effects and funny voices. There is no sweeter sound than the pure laughter of your own children.

5. Understanding
   No matter how much of a “chip off the old block” he may be, your child has his own unique personality. Take the time to learn your child and understand him. What makes him tick? What makes him sad?  What is his dream?  Everything.  Children want your acknowledgement of who they are.

6. Bear hugs and more
   The glow on a child’s face when his  dad picks him up with strong arms is an awesome sight to see. Never be ashamed to hug your child, kiss your child and say I love you. This comes hard for some men. Have you seen the commercial of the hockey player singing Itsy Bitsy Spider to his daughter on the phone? That’s your role model.

7. Professor Dad
   Teach your kids the life-skills they need. Sometimes parents assign tasks and just assume a child knows how to do it. And when things pop up that you are not great at,  learn them together. Be humble and clear and give your kids all they need to be successful.

8. The dinner table
   It sure is a busy world we live in. Very easily dinner time gets scattered, covered and smothered. When at all possible, make sure your family sits down at one table and shares meals together – television off.  You will never learn more about your child in any other setting than at a dinner table.

9. Show them how to live
   One of the biggest parenting mistakes is losing yourself in the process. Let your children see all the things about you that make you wonderful. Remember, your parents had hopes and dreams for you as well! They do not have to die just because you’re a parent. The family always comes first, but your fulfillment journey does not end. When they see their Dad living a full and awesome life, they will most likely do the same when they are adults.

10. This is not 1950
    Once upon a time, a world existed where the husband worked and the wife raised the family. He made the money, she ran the house.  But, times are changing and a man needs to do his share around the house, while the woman may need to make some extra money. Be a man who can hold his own in a kitchen.  A man that can keep a baby all day by himself. This is a complicated world and your children need to be as versatile and diverse as you.

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