Most love to be with their kids when they can find the time and energy. We need to deal with the national disgrace of fathers who abandon or abuse their children or the children s mothers. We need to enforce child support and reinforce co-parenting. We need to attract more fathers to parent education programs and help them build skills for successful parenting. But for Joe Average Dad who is trying to make ends meet, teach his kids to shoot free throws, keep two cars on the road and be a companionable mate, here are some smaller stepping stones to more fulfilling fatherhood.
Time is the greatest gift fathers can give their children.
Finding time for children may mean setting limits on work hours or sacrificing a night at the gym or playing cards with the guys. But your children grow up very quickly and if you spend their childhood at the office or on the golf course, you ll miss it all. Try playing Stratego with your son or teaching your daughter how to fish and discover firsthand the mutual pleasure that comes from spending quality time with your children. There s a lot that kids can learn from Dads. Dads have job skills, home skills, hobbies and expertise which children find interesting.