What is a Dad?

My Two Sons – Mamiya 645 1000S, Sekor C 80mm f2.8, Kodak Tri-X 400 – Developed & Scanned by the Film Box Lab in Nashville, Tennessee

Every parent probably was nervous about becoming a mom or dad. It was not as if we took classes to prepare for being a good parent. Thus evolving into our parental role was mostly instinctive and a combination of how we grew up and what we perceive from society of what moms and dads do. No matter your style of parenting, the one thing that is true for every parent is that we love our children dearly and we want the best for them.

Future Hall of Famer- Mamiya 645 1000S, Sekor C 80mm f2.8, Kodak Tri-X 400 – Developed & Scanned by the Film Box Lab in Nashville, Tennessee

I will be the first to tell you that I am no Ward Cleaver. Probably the number one thing I continue to work on is spending more time with my boys. I could stand to be more compassionate as well. My wife has taught me this over the years. That’s one of the many things I love about my relationship with my wife. She is always there to provide balance and perspective which has helped me become a better dad. Despite my shortcomings, I would say the good outweighs the bad. My goal is simple. I want to raise decent God fearing men with the knowledge to think for themselves. I believe if this is the case, they will succeed in whatever they do.

Our Gentle Giant & Soon to be Famous Author – Mamiya 645 1000S, Sekor C 80mm f2.8, Kodak Tri-X 400 – Developed & Scanned by the Film Box Lab in Nashville, Tennessee

Probably the most understated thing we can do as dads is to love our wives. We should not just preach, but lead by example. Loving our wives in front of our kids shows them how men are supposed to act. This is especially important for young men. Hugs, kisses, opening car doors, and just showing compassion to your wife will set the foundation of how your young men will treat their future wives. It will show the young daughters how to recognize a real man and not settle for a jerk. These are just some little things that I think are important. I wish I could say that I abide by all these rules, but I can’t. Sometimes I hit the mark and sometimes I miss, but I don’t quit. I learn from my mistakes and move forward with a little more wisdom. I found this passage below on the internet. I am sure a lot of you have heard this before. I think it does a good job of describing what a dad is. The author is unknown.