You can become a better father by taking an active role in your child's life, showing your child that compassion is important, and becoming a more nuturing parent.
Fatherhood is often thrust into the shadows of motherhood. After all, mothers are the ones who endured pregnancy, labor, and delivery. How can a father compete with that? Actually, there shouldn't be any competition because a father's role is so completely different from a mother's.
Many people feel that mothers are naturally nurturing, but fathers must learn how to parent their children. This is often a misconception. Even though you didn't carry your child in a womb for nine months, you dreamed of and greeted that child with just as much passion and adoration, so why shouldn't your role as a parent be just as important? Actually, the role of father is extremely important to a son or a daughter. You can strive to be the best father that you possibly can be focusing on a few important points.
First, you should take an active role in your child's life even before she is born. Try to attend as many of your wife's doctor's appointments as possible. Read books on parenting, and attend childbirth classes with your spouse. Once your baby is born, don't be afraid to take a hands-on approach to parenthood. You should learn to feed, diaper, and bathe your child. Take the time to rock and sing to your infant. Read her stories, and spend time daily with her as she grows.
Don't be afraid to show your feminine side. If your little boy falls down and looks up at you with tear-filled eyes, hug and kiss him freely. Teach him that compassion is necessary for both males and females. Throw out any stereotypes that surround the idea of a macho man. Your son should be able to see you show love and tenderness. If you feel like crying, go ahead and cry. Your son shouldn't grow up thinking that crying is for girls only. Help him understand that showing emotion is healthy.
You are the man who will teach your little girl what to expect from other males. If you want her to grow up to marry a man who will love and cherish her, then you will need to show her that as a father. Spend time with your daughter doing things she enjoys. Don't leave the feminine stuff to your wife every time. If your daughter wants to have a tea party, sit down with her and share some tea. If she wants to dance, put on some music and your dancing shoes and be her first partner. Let her know that her interests are important to you.
Don't be afraid to show her your softer side. As you interact with your daughter, you are teaching her that she deserves respect from other males in her life. Let her know that she is worthy of fairness and love. Teach her that she is as important as any man, and that she can reach for and achieve any goal that she might set.
Finally, teach your children that nobody is perfect, including you. You should be willing to admit your mistakes to yourself and to your children. Let them see that you are not invincible and that you can say you are sorry. Show them that it is alright to admit when you are wrong, and teach them to set things right, if at all possible. You can be a better father, and your children will grow up to be better adults because of your efforts.
