This is a post that I also published to Catholic Dads.
I thought fellow dads might be interested in a list of items on how to be a great dad from The Art of Manliness. I have reproduced just the list part, without the additional explanation. You can go to the article for the details. My thoughts on what seems to be missing can be found below.
Fatherhood tips
1. Cherish your time with them
2. It gets easier
3. Don’t look at anything as “mom” duties — share responsibilities
4. Love conquers all
5. Kids like making decisions
6. A little patience goes a long way
7. Sense of humor required
8. Read to them, often
9. Don’t be the absent dad
10. Let them play
11. Spark their imagination
12. Limit TV and video games
13. Learn the “firm no”
14. Model good behavior
15. Treat their mother with respect, always
16. Let them be themselves
17. Teach them independence
18. Stand together with mom
I think if I were making a list it would have several similarities, but perhaps a bit different in some important ways; especially when it comes to teaching (via word and deed) my children about Christ, his Church, prayer and sacrifice. I would also want to teach them about responsibility and loving their neighbor and seeing Christ in those around them. There is also no mention of teaching (and living) a sense of justice or compassion or courage. Those would rank pretty high on my list as crucial to fatherhood.
I guess what I am saying is that the clearly secular list is fine as an addendum, but it misses the entire point of life. The point is to know God, to love Him, and to serve Him in this life and be with him forever in the next. Everything we do as fathers should be directed toward that goal – for us, for our spouses, for our children, and for the community around us. That whole part seems to be missing.
