I’m on record as saying, and I’m going to be obnoxious and quite myself now, “if you aren’t growing alongside your kid, then you’re doing parenting wrong”. Being a dad is a learning experience from conception to when they go off to college or move out to get a job, and beyond! We recently asked the rad dads of our Facebook community what is something you learned from being a dad. Here’s just some of the responses, each packed with the wisdom gained from being a dad:
“An amazing ride”
Ryan Graves: That it is totally worth it and an amazing ride. That when I get home from work and my girls come running to the door and give me a huge hug that none of the BS that happened that day matter anymore. That the smile on my 7 month olds face is worth more than a million dollars. I love being a dad and wouldn’t change a thing. [Ryan, you took the words right out of our mouths!]
Maraleh Hansen: Sometimes that extra five minutes you spend with your kids will be the most important of their lives. My friend just passed and his kids are devastated. Please take that extra time for your kids today. You never know what life will bring and sometimes that is what makes all the difference in how they grow up.
“Enjoy the ‘filler’ moments”
Josh Hall: Only been a dad for 3 years and id say the best things it has taught me is patience and learning to love those quite moments wether it be a cuddle, kiss, sitting on the couch or some random game that is usually me chasing and tickling the kids. Enjoy the filler moments i guess. Those times of silliness between things.
Haitham Abul: It’s ok to be flexible and say “yes.” Parents have a tendency to say “no” too quickly sometimes.
“I can forget about being a germaphobe”
Mitch Wakefield: I can forget about being a germaphobe to take the opportunity to kiss those chubby, sweaty, stinky, spit-up covered neck rolls anytime I want to get a big belly laugh out of my kiddos!
Vernon Rehm: Enough to fill a book, but probably the most important, how deeply you can love your child unconditionally and how much your heart swells with pride to watch them succeed.
Joseph Jones: That the world doesn’t revolve around me.
“Pick your battles!”
Joseph Michael Reccius: Pick your battles! Sometimes the kids can have a small victory.
Donald Foreman Jr.: High fives for the good times, Shoulders to cry on for the bad times.
“Kids have to make their own mistakes”
Ed Albetski: Kids have to make their own mistakes. They don’t benefit from being told about yours. And you have to let them and be there to help.
*Flickr photo by Vernon Swanepoel, used under Creative Commons license.