Blogging Baby features four Stay at Home Dads as part of the Tuesday routine of tidbits from daddy blogging.

Doug Neal from Christian Dads tells us what the meaning of a father is. “As strange as it may sound, just having a child doesn’t make you a father. Fatherhood is something much deeper and more profound than an adult male hanging around the house doing whatever.”

Dennis understands the ups and downs of naptime. Read his article called The ABC’s of a Toddler’s Nap Schedule…

Elizabeth over at Career and Kids touches on the supposed bill that would require employers to provide their employees with four hours of paid leave every month to go and spend time in their child’s classroom.

Post from: Blisstree

Speedlinking – January 23, 2007

One of the things I’m realizing more and more is that being a dad is really a lot more about me than about my kids. What I mean is that being thrown into fatherhood and all the responsibilities of being a dad , only serves to highlight the areas where I’m seriously deficient. Another way of putting it is that whatever I am as a person without kids, is exactly what I’ll be as a father. My character, my values, my level of integrity, my relationship with God all go with me into fatherhood.

I agree completely with this assessment. I think what it all boils down to is teaching our kids by example, and demonstrating to them how to act and grow up as a proper acting adult. We all know there are things that are appropriate for adults but not for kids, such as drinking wine, smoking a cigarette, and other adult-like activity.

But here is where I go out on a limb with this one. If you seriously are thinking about your kids and not about yourself, you would stop doing those adult-like activities. We all know you can say, “Do as I say, and not as I do,” but that can only go so far. I mean if kids see that daddy or mommy is doing it then how bad can it really be? I think with raising kids and becoming responsible parents, doing away with your bad habits is important. Showing your children how to be responsible and healthy by living the way you want your kids to live will not only help you, but it will send a strong message to your kids.

We all grow up and are accustomed to what we are used to. No matter how hard we try we just are so strongly influenced by how we were brought into this world and raised. People often blame their parents, or their childhood for their adult actions. “Well I was brought up in an abusive home.” “I am the way I am because my dad drank heavily and was verbally abusive to my mom.” These are the things that shape all of us and determine how we are when we get older. Try to avoid it and you can’t. So when we raise our own kids, it is so important to not just drill words into their little minds, but to live and act according to your own philosophies. It is a lot harder than we think, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive to be that perfect dad. It is like in the picture I posted. Lead by example and lend out a helping hand.

What think you?

Post from: Blisstree

Is Fatherhood More About Your Kids and Less About You?