Interview with a Father and Son: Thoughts and Tips on Fatherhood
A Father's Gift to Share with His Kids
We sat down one day, just the two of us, in a quaint coffee shop away from home to have some time to ourselves....okay, at least, in my own head. The reality is we rarely get time alone and rarely ever outside of the house. That is life for us now. I have come to accept and adjust to that reality, just like my husband has accepted and learned a lot from being a dad, which he revealed to me in this little interview.
This interview was meant to be fun and I enjoyed getting an inside look in his head and heart about how he feels. He usually expresses himself through his actions and can be pretty quiet most of the time when it comes to articulating his thoughts.
A Father's Thoughts On Being a Dad
There are times when I am actually curious to know my husband's thoughts and opinions on things. I remember one day when I asked him what tip he would give to other parents about children.
His response? "Don't let the kids smell your fear."
Recently, just for fun and to make him think a little harder, I decided to ask him more about his view on being a dad. I also think it is something sweet we can share with the kids when they are older.
How Has Fatherhood Changed You?
"It has changed my perception on life and my responsibilities. It has changed how I view things, like how kids act, how they dress, how parents can sometimes be so absent-minded with their children and their responsibilities. Now that I’m taking care of two kids, I know I would give up everything and die for them. I think of their happiness first. I have become less selfish. The most important thing for me now is being a role model for them."
"Anyone can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad." - Anne Geddes
Pick Up My Father's Dragon to Read with Your Child
Most Awesome Dad
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Were Your Reactions Different For Each Child?
"Yes and no. When we found out about our first child, I was more anxious and jittery. When we found out about our second child, I no longer felt jittery but when I found out she was a girl, I became nervous & jittery all over again because I did not know what to expect and I still do not know what to expect from her.
I know that I love them both the same and am glad to be able to get a boy and a girl one right after the other."
"Dad: A son's first hero, a daughter's first love."
How About a Nice Shirt for the Best Dad Ever?
Super Dad
Quotes About Fathers
Which one is your favorite quote? Or let me know of your favorite as a comment below.
For You, What is the Biggest Change When You Became A Father?
"Losing hair, that is one big change! Also, my life was turned upside down. Now, I am worrying about what is best for them, not myself. Like at this particular time, she (our daughter who was laying down on the couch beside him), is asking me to rub her feet. You put your life on hold for them."
"The surprising thing about fatherhood was finding my inner mush, now I want to share it with the world." - Christopher Meloni, Brainy Quotes.
Enjoying the Small Things with Kids
Daddy's Princess
What Are Your Favorite Things To Do With Kids?
"Go to St. Augustine, get them treats, walk around a park with the wife and kids. The small things, like just sitting and watching movies while eating popcorn."
During this question, our little girl fell asleep.
"She fell asleep to the sound of my Morgan Freeman voice....(my husband says in Morgan Freeman voice). Hi, I’m Morgan Freeman. At a young age, people told me they loved the sound of my voice so I decided to become an actor …"
What is Your Favorite Thing About Being A Dad?
"Coming home from a hard day at work and the kids are running to the door, greeting you and hugging you. All that pain and worry melts away. I love being able to see them, play with them, see my son’s kindergarten graduation. It all drives me to be a better man.
"A truly rich man is one whose children runs into his arms when his hands are empty. " - Author Unknown
Following in A Father's Footsteps
What is the Best Way to Prepare for Fatherhood?
"You can study, look up and read as much as you want but you will never truly be ready until you have the experience. No child is the same, they are all different. Make sure you have a strong will to be there, tend to them, take care of them, not feel weak in any shape or form. My main advice: hang in there, do the best you can. Always listen to your wife!"
At this, I asked him, "What if you have no wife?"
"Then get creative, find information on the internet, like on blogs…"B is For…"
He is referring to my blog here - the always supportive spouse!
"When you have kids, it takes the focus off of you. You forget about what clothes you're wearing or if you went to the gym. It makes you a better person if you do it right." - James Denton
Here is my blog that my husband mentions. Stop by to read about our journey through parenting and to see some recipes and fun craft projects:
"Throught the Eyes of My Father" Brianna Haynes Music
What Do You Look forward to the Most in the Years to Come?
"Hoping to see them get married, go to college or to see whatever they are doing that is progressive in their career. My son wants to be a Nissan tech right now so hopefully he will be certified, move up and not just work on the cars. Hopefully, I can see a grandchild from each of my children before I leave this world."
How many do you want?
"However many they want to pop out."
Good answer, he knows that that is something we will not have any control over!
What Are Tips for New Dads or What You Wished Other Parents Would Have Told You?
- Put lotion on the kids at night - it helps calm them down and put them to sleep.
- Play with them, connect with them emotionally so you do not have to wonder what they need but know what they need. If you are connected to them on an emotional level, it helps you stay on top and not fall behind.
- If you have a wife or girlfriend who is pregnant, always be there for her. Do not be frustrated even with her smallest needs, just do it because you put them in this situation!
- Also, with my son, I found that he always wants to play games before going to bed. (He is referring to board games). With my daughter, she likes her feet rubbed just like her mother so defintely do that.
What are Three Words to Describe Being a Father?
"OMG" or "Is this poop?"
"A child looks up at the stars and wonders. Great fathers put a child on his shoulders and helps them to grab a star." - Reed Markham
What Is the Difference Between Being a Mother Compared to a Father?
"Mothers can do anything, fathers need a mother’s manual."
Anything Else You Want to Add?
"Kids are your jewels of life, cherish them, protect them. Respect your kids if you want them to respect you; you need to show them that you respect them, too. Do not push them aside when you are having issues, embrace them. Usually the smallest thing they say will make you feel better."
"Nothing is more precious to a man than his children. If your children are doing well, all your other problems will fit into a thimble." - Patrick Morley
I already knew he was a wonderful dad and I know that even during the rough times, he enjoys being a father. Hearing him say it is just an added bonus and I know our kids will appreciate reading his words one day.
St.Augustine, FL
Son’s Interview About His Father
"I love the comic opportunities that come up in a father-son relationship." - Harrison Ford, Brainy Quotes.
The next day, I wanted to see what my son had to say about his dad. He says the goofiest things sometimes so I wanted to hear his thoughts, too!
1. What color is Daddy's eyes? Blue
2. What color is daddy’s hair? Purple
3. Hold old is Daddy? 29 I mean 99.
Answers to questions one through three are not true. Well, three is half-way true.
4. What is Daddy’s favorite color? Purple (To be honest, I have no idea!).
5. What is Daddy’s favorite food? His sister answered first and said chicken. He said soup. (Neither one is true here).
6. What is daddy’s favorite dessert? His sister answered first again and said, rice. He said ice cream with coffee. (I do not think neither one of these is true, either).
7. What is Daddy’s favorite thing to do? Hang out with us.
8. What is Daddy’s favorite thing to say? He loves us. (I am sure this is true).
9. What is Daddy's favorite thing to do for fun? Go to Adventure Landing, Lego Land, Disney World, hotel and play golf ball.
10. What is Daddy’s favorite sport? Football
11. What makes Daddy funny? When we hit his hand and then he flies away. (I have no idea what this means!).
12. What is your favorite thing to do with Daddy? To get Star Wars toys.
13. What does Daddy wish he could do more? To watch TV, like Justice League. (I am pretty sure that this is not true!).
14. What is Daddy's favorite movie? Justice League and Star Wars (I think my son is referring to his own favorite movies).
15. What is your favorite thing about Daddy? I like when he watches with me, I like to watch with him. I mean, I like when he plays with me with the board games.
16. What Star Wars character would daddy be like? Darth Vader.
17. What is your favorite memory of Daddy? When he took me to the pool.
18. What super hero would Daddy be like? Superman
19. What do you want to do for Daddy for Father’s Day? I want to make him a Transformer. I want to cook him hamburgers with cheese and those brown circle things and it has pickles with ketchup and lettuce. What about dessert? Cupcakes with coffee.
20.What makes Daddy special? He says he loves us.
A Sweet Book For Dad
What Are Some Tips You Have to Take Care of Daddy?
- Put him in trash can
- I’ll let him buy eight toys.
- Feed him pizza.
- I wouldn’t let him use the bathroom. Okay, I would.
- I will take him to Lego Land and Disney World and go to hotel.
- I would put pink clothes on him.
- I would say I love him.
- His sister's tip: Dance with him.
My little boy can be charming but sometimes, a bit cruel, as you can tell from his tip to put his dad in a trash can. I enjoyed hearing both my husband's thoughts on being a dad and my son's thoughts about his dad.
I am happy to see that at least they both agree on the most important thing and that my son has already picked up on it and placed it as a tip here: "I would say I love him."
"Sometimes, the poorest man leaves his children the richest inheritance." - Ruth E. Renkel
©BNadyn 2014
You May Enjoy Other Work From This Author:
- Fun Things To Do with Dad or for Your Dad on Father's Day
Father's Day is a day to honor dad and show him how much you appreciate him. Make him feel loved with these tips to celebrate dad on Father's Day or any day of the year. - Things A Father Should Know When Raising A Daughter
Many fathers don't feel as confident raising a daughter as they do raising a son. Here are some light-hearted tips about raising a little girl that you may find helpful, amusing or maybe a bit scary! - Words of Wisdom From a Mother to Her Son
For my son's birthday, I wanted to give him a special gift - some words of wisdom that he can reflect on as he grows. I know he's too young to understand it all now but one day he will.