re: OT dads, allow me to get a bit sappy. Sing to your kids. Sing them lullabies.

Little kids are awesome. They view a strong parent - one who disciplines them and loves them unconditionally like a parent should - as superheroes. When they are little kids, they even choose to bounce the love that you give them back to you. I call it the "salad days," because it's the appetizer of a family's life.

I have a father's day card my son made for me where he wrote that I was his hero because every single time he asked me to play ball with him I stopped what I was doing and played with him. I hang my hat on that, because I always made an effort to put my kids first.

Hold onto it, enjoy it, and keep the memories of them as little kids as best you can. Continue to build your relationship with them on that direct and unfailing interaction, discipline and constant love. Be the parent that they deserve.

They'll eventually turn into teenagers, and they'll think that they have to distance themselves from you, but if you have that foundation with them as little kids, they'll still respect you and understand that the parent is always in control of everything, even if they don't act like it.

Bottom line - do it right, be smart if there's a bump in the road, and they will turn out just like you raised them.

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I have a father's day card my son made for me where he wrote that I was his hero because every single time he asked me to play ball with him I stopped what I was doing and played with him. I hang my hat on that, because I always made an effort to put my kids first

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I had a spit shake deal with my son tonight. We listened to “the Devil went down to Georgia” together and he told me he wanted to learn to play like that.

So I told him there was a banjo and a fiddle in the closet. And if I got his room cleaned, then he had to learn to play.
I don’t have a clue, I just collect them so if the time comes they are available. But now...he’s got the instruments and we made a deal.


You should have seen his face when I spit in my hand and put it out...he didn’t know what to do. But he made that little spit and shook and I told him what making a deal means.

There’s gonna be a fiddle in his bed come morning

You play guitar? Or an instrument?

Want to make some music?

I had no idea I would enjoy being a dad so much. Never was around kids.
Had to a puther to bed and the only songs I knew all the way through was happy birthday and hey fighting tigers. But kids don’t care. They just want you there. Feel your presence and love.
And now I highly recommend being a grandfather. So much fun without the stress you had when you were responsible for everything. She just turned 2. So much fun

my son never like to be sung lullabies so I never really learned any, but my daughter was a cranky baby due to some stomach issues that we finally got worked out. One particular night, she was being fussy and I just started singing the ABC song then made up one for the NATO phonetic alphabet to go along with it. Seemed to do the trick as I still sing them to her that way now even though she is 15 months old. She likes music so lullabies arent her thing but the good ole ABC will knock her out at bedtime.

I normally take the mornings on the weekends waking up with our 5-month-old and letting mom sleep in.
Truth be told, that's our jam time. Ill sit him in his chair and I'll play guitar and sing to him. Doesn't even matter what I sing. Hell, a few weeks back I was singing Cajun French songs to him.

Our 6-month old little man loves music, especially country. He’s at the stage where a noonie won’t work and he doesn’t like to be coddled in the way he use to fall asleep in your arms. However, put country music on and I’ll be damn, within 5 minutes he’s out. But I absolutely love singing to him (even though I suck at singing)

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dads, allow me to get a bit sappy. Sing to your kids.

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All of this.

Me and my kids have dance parties and I'm goofy as frick when appropriate. We played the game of LIFE just last night as a family. I let them frick around on my drum kit for a bit before I get practicing.

My family treated anything to do with me as a burden on them, so I spent my childhood either hiding from my screaming shrew of a mother in my room or outside and with other kids' families as much as possible. Dad was home, just checked out and numb to the life he mistakenly chose, yet couldn't bring himself to leave.

I'll be damned if my kids have to dread being in their own home or speaking to their own parents. I'd rather be dead than have my kids think they are a burden on me or my wife.

Sing, be stupid and goofy, make silly faces at dinner, encourage them, tune them up when needed (I mean with healthy discipline), show them hard work and dedication, make sure they know what a good husband, father, or single dad can really be for them. Give them a base that they can always cling to until they find their own way. Give them realistic confidence about what they can accomplish and help them get there without spoonfeeding them. Protect them, but let them fall when appropriate.

Most importantly, involve them in your life and hobbies as much as you can. Don't make them think they are just your kids, make them know they are part of a family team.

Kids are only little for so long, then they get too old & cool for these moments. I still read stories to my son, though I get him to read half of them now too. We still say our prayers together before a kiss goodnight and turn out the light. I know I only have a year or two left of that, but I cherish it every time.