The Four Things Every Guy Must Have to be a Dad

Anyone can father a child, but those of us in the club know it’s something else entirely to be a “Dad”. Now, I’m not going to start this list with the typical, “You must show unconditional love”. That and the like are all a given. I’m going to give you some small nuggets of wisdom I’ve learned in my short three years of fatherhood.

Be Silly – That’s right, be a total goof. While your children may beg you to stop once they are teenagers, while they are young it’s the best thing in the world. Make your best crazy faces while you brush their teeth. Make up songs and have singalongs while in the bath or getting them dressed – you don’t need to sing well. Pretend you’re ninjas trying to put away toys while barrel-rolling across the floor. It’s the little things like this that bond you and your kids together. It creates memorable experiences out of the otherwise forgettable things in life. Being silly doesn’t stop in the house either. Show them that life is fun and meant to be enjoyed. Teach your children by example to be lighthearted and love fun. Now don’t get me wrong; there are times to be serious, but don’t forget to have fun and loosen up.

Stop the Baby Talk – While being silly with your kids is great, don’t confuse it with “Does my wittle baby wanna drinky-poo?” Not only is baby talk disgusting, it should stop when your child is not an infant anymore. You want your child to be able to speak clearly and articulate what they are saying, right? Then why bombard them constantly with high-pitched Elmer Fudd talk? Speech is not the only issue here. I’m sure you know someone who baby talks too much to their child. Now ponder this, doesn’t this same person also baby their child a little too much as well? Chances are, if you are speaking to your child like a baby, you’re treating them like one too. I was recently at a party where a father was talking to his two year old daughter like she was two months old, and boy was that kid a whiner. Don’t treat your child like an infant and they won’t act like one.

Be Stone Cold – No, I don’t mean elbow drop your kids like Steve Austin. Life is full of unexpected moments and sometimes those unexpected moments are your kids getting sick or injured. When your child has to go the emergency room or is laying in bed vomiting with a high fever – don’t lose it. You need to be the dad who keeps it together so when your little one looks at you they know everything is going to be okay. In your head you may be screaming, “HOLY SHIT THIS IS BAD!”, but on the outside you need to be a stone cold rock ready to do what needs to be done to help your child.

Wet Wipes – Possibly greater than the highly regarded invention of sliced bread. There is nothing wet wipes cannot do. Know them, own them, love them. Runny noses, poopy diapers, food covered faces, dirty hands, feet, you name it – wet wipes has you covered. Without these on hand you may be forced to assault your kids with a freshly licked napkin. Remember those? Yes, nobody like those.