This is part of the The Dad Toolbox series, providing tools and resources to be a great dad. Read more from the series!
My family is getting larger.
We are expecting our next child in January 2013.
But with children comes responsibility. That seems so obvious, but so many dads have missed that somehow.
Let me say it again: With children comes responsibility.
A few weeks ago, I took some kids, including one of my daughters, to church camp. I watched a dad arrive with his son, unload the luggage, register, and then leave, all without taking his phone from his ear. The only time he even spoke to his son was after he failed his swim test. He pulled the phone away and growled “You’d better pass it tomorrow!”
As I got to know this boy throughout the week, it quickly became apparent that this was pretty normal in his life. He craved attention from the faculty, especially the men. From that one moment, it was easy to see that this boy had a father, but he didn’t have a dad. This man is failing his son, and he probably doesn’t even know it.
This is an area in my life where I do not want to be passive. I do not want to fail in this. In order to be a great father, I must be active and take the initiative in the lives of my kids.
I must be intentional.
And that means I must continually reinforce to them that they are one of my top priorities.
Here are some things I’ve found helpful in communicating that to my children.
