The 4 C’s of Daddyhood
Navigating through Daddyhood can be tricky, and even downright confusing at times. I’ve come up with the 4 C’s of Daddyhood. These 4 C’s remind me of what’s most important, they show me how to handle various daddy situations and help keep me calmly on the (sometimes bumpy) road that is daddyhood.
1. Consistency: First things first – being a dad is all about consistency. Success in daddyhood requires consistency in all aspects of parenthood: consistently making it home in time for family dinner; developing a routine your children will consistently look forward to every day; consistently finding quality time to spend with your kids; consistently setting a good example for your children to follow. You kids will look to you, their dad, for advice, for help, for ideas, for really just about everything, and you need to be ready to be a dad who is consistent.
2. Communication: One of the single most important things you can do to navigate smoothly through daddyhood is to communicate effectively – not only with your wife but with your children, too. If something is unclear, ask questions; if you’re expected to be somewhere you find out all the details; and most importantly you let your family know just how much they mean to you each and every day. Sit down with your children and talk to them about anything and everything. You’ll be surprised by the things they tell you and your father-child bond will grow because of this special time spent working on keeping open lines of communication.
3. Control: Yes, you’re the man of the house, but that doesn’t mean you control how that house is run day-to-day. In fact, if there’s one thing I’ve learned through daddyhood it’s that you’ll have to give up a great deal of control. Things are not always going to work out how you wanted them to and you’ll have to learn to be flexible and roll with the punches. Your wife will likely have control over the weekly calendar and schedule, and you should thank her daily for keeping your family’s lives moving smoothly from day-to-day. You, as the daddy, however, can find control in organization and routine; figure out what works for you and stick to it!
4. Creativity: Possibly my favorite of the 4 C’s is creativity. As we struggle through day-to-day life it can be easy to forget to have fun and find enjoyment in the seeming mundane everyday moments. As a dad I work hard to turn simple tasks into enjoyable moments making my wife and children smile and laugh as often as possible. Be creative every single day and strive to make every moment enjoyable as time is fleeting and your children will be grown up before you know it.
Sincerely,
Daddy Nickell
Daddy Nickell, father of 7, founder of Daddyscrubs.com and the Daddyscrubs parenting blog.
