Yes, you can be a good dad and a good role model
Torn between work and family conflict. Being a breadwinner and providing a nurturing & caring environment to raise our kids does take a lot of time. On top of juggling these two aspects of our life, it does feel a little selfish to want to be exercising and live a life that is healthy for us.
Take a moment to reflect back on how you grew up, draw from your life experiences. Think about father figures or male figures in your life that you idolised. Think about the fathers in and around your life that you see at the moment. Are there aspects that don’t sit well with you? One more reflection is to think about where you feel you are missing out at the moment.
Having lots of time with your kids is great, but making memory is where it counts.
Here are some ways that you can make your time count and become someone to look up to.
First is to lead by example, so you show that you continue to learn, get out of your comfort zone and be comfortable in that zone where you want to grow. Most importantly, show that exercise is an important part of your life.
Second is to follow through with your commitments. These commitments can be small little ones, like am going to play with you in five minutes please let me finish this task or might be, starting a home renovation task like putting a fence up. Finish the job, do not leave it for 30 minutes still working or five years later with no fence up. Show the people that are looking up to you, what it means to keep your word.
Next is to involve them in what you are doing, it could be work task or home task. By getting them involved in what you are doing, they see that it does require a lot of juggling. You might finish a work task and then you come home to start completing that next project but the kids time with you miss out….. If they are involved with the home task IE painting a wall or fixing a cabinet, they see we can do it all at once. Exercise is the same, balance time with them & putting in time for your health. Being a role model for them to look up to.
The last point is about spending quality time over the quantity of time. Studies from the AIS, Australia Institute of Family Studies, back in 2017. Show while there were 35 percent of kids who thought their dads work too much, there was still 68 percent of kids who thoroughly enjoyed their time with Dad. There also was 66 percent of kids saying they get enough time with their dad. Now I think these studies indicate, it’s what we do with our loved ones that is more important than the amount of time spent. So, when spending time with kids, make sure it counts.
Take home messages are;
- Lead by example
- Follow through with your commitments
- Involve your kids with home/work tasks
- It is about time spent, quality time over total time spent
Keep in mind of these suggestions and become the father a child looks up to.
Reference the long hours and longings study back in 2017
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