As a father, you have a very important role!

Recent early childhood development discoveries further confirm the investment in early childhood development has extra importance for a parent. However, regardless of the age of your child or of the father for that matter, a father’s positive influence can play a huge role.

Here are some important things a father can do to be a great dad:

– Love unconditionally, and practice, “I love you the way you are, not the way I want you to be”. The more children are loved  the way they are, the better their self esteem. In this way they feel more secure later on in their life.
– Be a great role model. The best way to teach a child is to model the behaviour. Children do not listen to what you say, they learn from what they see in you!
– Inspire in your children strong and deeper “roots”! Roots imply – model principles, ethics and values. Once children have strong roots they will not succumb to temptation and compromise their own principles, ethics and values.  This will give them a strong foundation of integrity – leading to deeper relationships that are built on rapport and trust!
– Inspire your children to acquire “wings”. Wings implies modelling self esteem and belief in the self. Once children have wings they will have the confidence and positive pride to aim high and tap into their genius.
– Create memories by spending quality time with your children.  Kahlil Gibran beautifully said:
“You give but little when you give of your possessions.
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give!”
– Be a good, loving husband, partner, sibling, and human being! If you want your children to be the same, model that behaviour by being that person.
With words, you can only preach, with action, you teach! Saint Francis of Assisi was the preacher who said preach always, and if you must, use words.  Francis preached through his actions, he taught by the life he lived!

For me personally, today is not only Father’s Day, but also the second anniversary of my dad’s passing. He was all of the above and more. I aspire to be like him, and I have no excuse not to be because I had a great role model. Thank you, Dad. I love you and miss you!

So remember, it’s never too late to be an even greater father than you are today.

Happy Father’s Day to all fathers everywhere!