What are the requirements to fill the role of an excellent father

[LucyDuke]

Whatever Mom tells you to do.

 

[Brighteye]

Be just, fair, wise, strong, balanced and kindly.

Or I could just link to Kipling's If.

 

[Sims2789]

Be involved in your kids life. Listen to them and talk to them. If they need to be punished, explain why they are being punished. When they are good or bad, recognize it, and react appropriately. Be an example to them...not an excuse.

I agree with all of this. It seems that parents who don't explain their punishments tend to have overly rebellious or overly timid children. Depending on how iron-fisted the parent is, the child either won't respect legitimate authority or will respect authority too much. Also, kids won't repeat their behavior out of fear of punishment, instead of not repeating it because they understand why it's wrong or not in their best interest.

 

[Fifty]

pay child support for at least 25% of your kids

 

[JohnRM]

The first duty of a Father is to teach your children what they need to know to survive. The second duty of a Father is instill in them the drive to learn and to do better for themselves than their parents did. The third duty of a Father, which is actually the first duty, is to fork up the sperm.

 

[LesCanadiens]

I don't think you can really know what it takes to be a father, good or bad, until you are a father.

 

[Narz]

Whatever Mom tells you to do.

Children need a father too. A man who needs a woman to validate all his decisions is no better than another child.

 

[LucyDuke]

Children need a father too. A man who needs a woman to validate all his decisions is no better than another child.

Fathers need to understand jokes.

 

[Narz]

Fathers need to understand jokes.

My father only dished them out.

 

[LucyDuke]

My father only dished them out.

Then you know how to do better than he did.

 

[Narz]

I think so. I'll do my best.

 

[downtown]

pay child support for at least 25% of your kids

I'm emailing this thread to my good friend, Shawn Kemp

 

[betazed]

When you know the universal requirements that make a good father, let me know. I could use all the wisdom I can get while trying to raise my two year old.

 

[mrt144]

pony rides. lots and lots of pony rides.

 

[Abaddon]

I don't think ponys should be involved in becoming a father...

 

[Masquerouge]

I'm not sure what they are, but I'll try to be like my dad