The role of the father figure has changed in recent decades. Gone are the days of Dad serving the exclusive role of provider and protector while Mom was the only one who cared for and watched over the children. Frankly, these days have been gone for quite a while.
Dad would go off to work each day not to be seen until dinner time, then spend weekends working around the house, garage, or on the farm. Although mom was the parent actively tending to every need of the children, offering emotional support, and helping with homework, Dad had a strong presence in the family leading by example and serving out discipline as needed. His presence was more of that of respect from a distance than a close personal relationship that was felt with a mother.
With the changes in the homelife of most families, the role for dads has had to adapt. Dads are now taking care of sick children, giving baths, braiding hair, and cooking meals for the family while mom is occupied with her duties with her career or out with her friends. Yet, there is just something in the nature of the male that causes him to want to be more than just a babysitter. Something deep in the DNA, through centuries of being the provider and caretaker of the family, simply drives a dad to be more. Men want to be strong. Men want to be competitive. Men want to be the Ultimate Dad.
But what is the Ultimate Dad?
The Ultimate Dad is knowledgeable. He has done his homework as to what is needed of his children whether that is their health, their education, their safety and more. During pregnancy, the Ultimate Dad has educated himself about the medical needs of his wife and unborn child during this critical stage to ensure the proper development of the baby and aid in labor and delivery. As a dad of an infant, he knows what to expect at pediatric visits, is prepared to make decisions regarding immunizations and watches to make sure his child is reaching the proper milestones. When his child is older, the Ultimate Dad knows when his child is falling behind in school and is willing to put in the time helping with homework to help his child get ahead. He knows how to answer the questions kids ask such as “Why is the sky blue?” Simply put, the Ultimate Dad knows his stuff.
The Ultimate Dad is present. When it comes to T-ball games, the Ultimate Dad is there. When his daughter is starring in the school play and there’s a project due at the office the next day, the Ultimate Dad is in the front row of the auditorium recording the whole play on his phone, but up an hour and a half early the next morning to get caught up on work. The Ultimate Dad says “Yes” when his son asks “Daddy, will you play with me”, rather than trying to get in 9 holes before dark. Priorities for the Ultimate Dad always revolve around his children and his wife, and he is always willing to sacrifice his hobbies and interests to give them the happiness that they deserve.
The Ultimate Dad cares. He listens to the worries of his daughter even though deep down he may think the color of her hair is not that important. He understands why his son may not want to play football this fall. He takes a genuine interest in their hobbies and tries to participate in those regardless of his skill level or knowledge in it. He plays tag on the playground and teaches them how to do everyday tasks. He teaches his children to be responsible, caring, and polite. Seeing the long-term consequences, he is willing to have the difficult conversations with his children. Because he cares, he sticks to his word. When he promises a reward, he gives the reward. When he promises punishment, he delivers the punishment.
The Ultimate Dad understands that the way he lives his life and the decisions that he makes every day influences the type of person that his children will become – for the better or for the worse.
In short, The Ultimate Dad is prepared. He is a renaissance man of fatherhood. He can braid hair before school, kick butt at the office, come home and build a birdhouse, and tell a killer bedtime story…after brushing teeth of course. The Ultimate Dad is in his element in any situation. But this is a labor of love. It is because of his love for his children and his home that he is willing to sacrifice his own time, effort, and goals for the betterment of his children and building a relationship with them that will last a lifetime.
The Ultimate Dad is a goal. It is something that we want to be but may never fully become.
To help you fulfill your goal of becoming an Ultimate Dad, this blog was formed. Our desire is to build this website to be your destination for all you need to help you transform yourself into the Ultimate Dad. We are dads too. We know you are busy. We will keep our post to a short and to the point, while still giving you the information you need. Knowing that your children and home are more important than social media or the internet, we have planned our posts to be content that can be consumed in just a few minutes. So, get out of here and go be the Ultimate Dad!