I am not sure I am a big fan of Father’s Day.
I struggle with having a day to celebrate me, a father.
I know I need to improve.
I know I get impatient often.
I could be in better shape.
I need to spend more time with my kids.
I am not always sure I am educating my boys correctly to prepare them for the future.
I could always make more money.
I could be a more fun dad.
I could protect my family better.
The list of opportunities to become a better father is very long for me.
A Call to Continuous Growth and Improvement
Father’s Day is more than a celebration.
It is a moment of self-reflection.
It is a day to renew your commitment to become a better man, husband, and father.
While receiving appreciation from our families is wonderful, the day should inspire us to look inward, set new goals, and implement new systems for personal and family growth.
Reflect on Your Journey
Take some time to reflect on your journey as a father. What things have you done well? What could you improve?
What are your most important memories? What opportunities have you ignored because you are busy, and what will you do to make time to get them done?
Have an honest talk with your father and start making the first steps towards being a better dad.
You might even want to keep a journal, or I have written letters to my boys about my commitment to being a better father.
You could even create your contract or pledge to your family and present it to them on Father’s Day.
Set Personal Goals
Every father should set personal goals and implement a system to achieve them.
Father’s Day is perfect for reflecting on your goals and fine-tuning them for any required adjustments.
These goals could be related to health, career, personal development, self-defense, and kids’ education.
They are your goals.
Setting goals can keep you focused, whether you’re committing to a healthier lifestyle, learning new skills, or advancing in your career.
Strengthen Your Relationships
What could be more important on Father’s Day than strengthening your relationship with your children and wife?
Being a great father starts with being a great husband.
Invest time in strengthening your relationship with your wife.
We all get so busy with kids’ sports, work, and our own goals that we sometimes forget to make time for our wives.
Effective communication, mutual respect, shared goals, and some fun are the pillars of a strong relationship.
This relationship creates a loving and stable environment for your kids to grow up in.
Prioritize Quality Time
It is almost cliche, but I will say it anyway: your time is one of the most valuable gifts you can give your children.
Make a conscious effort to spend quality time with your kids.
This can even mean movie night, but it is better to engage in activities that allow you to communicate and get to know each other better.
I recently wrote a newsletter on the subject called Get Off Of Your Butt and Play With Your Kids.
Engage in activities they enjoy, listen to their stories, and be present in their lives.
This creates an incredible bond and sets a positive example for them.
Foster Open Communication
For God’s sake, talk to your kids often.
Get to know them.
Create an environment in your home where communication is encouraged.
When you are busy or focused on something in your home and your kids start to bother you with their demand for attention, remain calm, and remind yourself that the chore in front of you can wait.
Make your kids your priority and let them know they can come to you anytime with their problems, questions, and ideas.
Listen to them actively and provide guidance when needed.
You do not have to solve all their problems.
Give your kids the opportunity to build experience and learn by working through problems and obstacles on their own.
But be there to build trust and help them develop their communication skills.
Lead by Example
Kids learn a lot through observation.
They learn more from what they see than what they are told.
If you are an asshole, your kids are probably going to become assholes.
Lead by example in every aspect of your life.
You kids are watching you.
It is as basic as the language you use.
How you react when you are frustrated.
They watch what you eat.
They observe how you treat your wife.
Show them the importance of hard work, integrity, kindness, courage, and resilience.
How you act in front of your children will leave a lasting impression.
Embrace Life Long Learning and Self-Development
My whole blog is committed to this aspect, so I must repeat it here.
Commit to lifelong learning.
Commit to lifelong self-improvement and development.
These things lead to success.
Remember that kids are observing what you are doing.
This is one of the most critical life lessons you can teach your kids and a positive example you want to set with them.
It benefits you.
It will also benefit your kids.
Read books, attend workshops, and seek mentors who can help you grow.
Continuous improvement will not only benefit you but will also inspire your kids to value education and self-improvement.
Conclusion
I started this article by saying I am not a big fan of Father’s Day.
Maybe I will walk that back a little because it reminds me of the important role we play in our families.
In my blog, I discuss how important it is to learn from and gain experience from the mistakes we make along the journey leading to success.
It is also important to celebrate our wins. While all of us have lots of opportunities to improve and become better fathers, it is also important to celebrate our wins.
All the fathers and men out there, take this day to celebrate your achievements and recognize and commit to a life of continuous improvement.
Commit to becoming the best father you can be.
Take this day to reflect on your journey.
Set new goals.
Commit to being better every day.
Become the fathers our children deserve and other men aspire to be.
Embrace this Father’s Day to become the best father you can be and the best version of yourself.
Happy Father’s Day
