Through teaching him the importance of honesty, integrity, patience and perseverance, I get to model and be reminded at a fundamental level of the strength I have to live those qualities daily. Part of my personality is that I want to appear tough, that I can withstand, or dish out, vast quantities of physical or emotional pain. But when I had a child I knew that I had to start chipping away at that unnecessary armor. I wanted my child to know that I was accessible, human. Daddy feels pain.
Daddy makes mistakes.
Whatever I feel makes it safe for him to feel. I wanted him to know that he could feel all his feelings and that I wouldn't go away. I give this gift to my son. That tough shell of mine has transformed. I hold my words and sometimes, I even remember to keep my heart open.