Fatherhood: the Ultimate Balance of Teaching and Learning

No doubt the current influx of reading material on fatherhood means Father's Day is just around the corner. I came across a celebrity pictorial profile of dads and their kids in the current issue of Men's Health Best Life magazine, in a series of stories about fatherhood. A couple of things jumped out:

X-Men actor James Marsden says his son Jack “...has taught me that before him, I was just going through the motions.”

Renowned chef, Todd English, says his children have taught him “Spontaneity, and to find the little boy in myself that makes being a father so much fun.” His older son, Oliver, says his father has taught him “To look at life with open eyes.”

The father-child relationship is an amazing cycle that provides purpose through reciprocity. Fathers and their kids take turns being teachers and students, and sometimes the greatest lessons come from the smallest moments.

Here are a few tips I found that help remind me that fatherhood is an ongoing, organic and mutual process of growth and development with your kids:

> Start early, never stop
> No one is a natural
> Teach by example
> Say you're sorry
> More awe, less frustration