What is the meaning of being a Dad?
Bringing life to the world is the most satisfying and uplifting reward any human will ever have. I can imagine that there are many reasons why you wanted to become a dad or are planning on becoming one: seeking a better future, a family, maybe a solid union with your partner or from a very selfish point of view; simply to feed the pleasure of knowing that you created something unique and unrepeatable. Selfish as it sounds, becoming a dad is the highest action of love you might do or have done. The reason is simple; you give up yourself as the center of your world and decide to situate yourself in second place.
During the first 9 months you pay attention to every movement and sounds, also kiss and sing songs to the belly and with that actions of love you start building your connection between your future child and you. When the magical day comes you receive your child in tears, laughter and hugs. That day when you have your first real contact; you swear to your creation and yourself to be present for him/ her forever.
The first time you hear your child call you “dad” you will feel a rush of feelings exploding inside your body and when you see him / her take the first steps, you will kneel down and encouraged him / her to go right next to where you were and merge both selves in an eternal and joyful hug.
Over the first years you will invite your child to be part of all of your world. You make yourself sure that where ever you are or will be both of you are together. You take the time to strengthen and solidify the bond created. You nurture the love with actions. You guide your child when it is needed and support him / her by assisting to every single art show, sport game and far most you go out of your way to always find what your child likes and do it because seeing him/ her smile meant the world to you. As quick reminder; seeing you happy and proud of him / her, it means the world to your child too. By taking assertive and confident actions you demonstrate to your child that no matter the circumstances are, as long as there is love involve him/ she can always have a positive outcome. You do it all.
Nevertheless as you get old and time passes by you change. Somehow you and without logical explanation might have in the back of your mind thoughts that teen-agers and young adults do not want to be disturb so you retrieve. As you take this action, you slowly start to disappear from him / her life. (I know it might sound awful, but lots of parents do this). Without noticing it, you leave your child in a dark road and no direction when he / she needs you the most. As a dad you must never forget that teen- agers and young adult years are the most crucial and important for your child life. He / she will encounter an enormous amount of circumstances where your child will rely on you not only for advice but also for support, motivation or an extra lending hand to complete their personal projects. Those years are the strongest soul foundation years and you as dad must be present and active participant. This years will determine in a high percentage who your child become. Remember that your child will always be studying and analyzing you during his / her entire life – you are everything to your child - and during those following years he / she will implement all the knowledge you taught him / her. You cannot hide or run away. Do not use the lame excuses of work, tiredness or nothing else that might come to your mind. Your child needs you. You are everything to him / her!
To all the dads out there, there is always room for improvement and it is never late to be present in your child’s life. Nevertheless, every dad needs to understand the responsibility and meaning of being a dad. A dad is not a dictatorship nor something similar. A dad is the man his / her child look up to. Is the example and role model to follow; it is what your child want to be when he / she grows up. As a dad you understand that growing hand in hand with your child enhances the possibilities of enjoying life together.
Always be present and remember: “Life is a flow of love; dad your participation is requested”