How to Be a Good Father

Nobody said being a good father was easy. No matter what age your child is or how many children you have, you have to know that a father's work is never done. To be a good father, you have to be present, be a good disciplinarian and role model, and be sympathetic to your children's needs without being a pushover. If you want to know how to be a good father, just follow these steps.

(1) Make time for your kids. Your children don't care if you've just had a big promotion at your company or whether or not you own the most expensive house on the block. What they do care about is whether or not you'll be home on time for dinner, if you'll take them out on Sunday, and if you'll be around for them to feel your love.  If you want to be a good father, then you have to set aside time every day for your children -- or at least every week -- no matter how busy you are.

(a) Plug this time into your schedule. Maybe your best nights for your children are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Take the time to put in extra care during those days, and don't let other commitments get in the way.

(b) If you have more than one child, then you should make time to see each child individually, so your unique relationships can develop.

(c) If you're so tired that you can't possibly take them out, do something else with them instead, like watching an educational cartoon with them and narrating the story for them. It's important that you're there in some capacity.

(2) Be there for the milestones. Though planning "daddy time" for your kids each week is a great way to strengthen your relationship, you should also try to be there for important milestones in their lives. Arrange your work schedule so that you can be there for your son's first day of school, your daughter's performance on sport days, or your son or daughter's high school graduation. Your children will remember these moments for the rest of their lives, and having you be there will mean a lot.

You may be very busy when one of your kids is about to hit a milestone, but if you miss out, you'll regret it later on.

(3) Teach your children the important lessons. You should also be present to teach your children how to complete the basic tasks of life. You can help your son use the bathroom, teach your children to brush their teeth properly, help them learn how to ride a bike, and teach them to drive when the time comes. You can also teach your sons how to shave and maintain good hygiene. Your kids will need you to learn the big life lessons as well as the small everyday tasks.

(4) Develop strong communication. Being present for the important moments in your children's lives is very important, and so is being able to communicate with your children when you're there. You don't always have to do something exciting with your kids for them to enjoy hanging out with you -- you just have to focus on being able to communicate with them, to understand their concerns and struggles.

(5) Plan trips with your kids. To be a good father, you should take the time to go on trips with your kids -- with or without their mother. You can take a yearly fishing trip with your boys, a trip to the beach with your daughter, or even a camping trip that your kids will never forget. Whatever you do, try to make it special, memorable, and something that can be repeated at least once a year so that you've developed a fun daddy-centric routine.