• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Because dads don’t always think like moms™

  • Dad
    • Celebrities
    • Gay Dads
    • Sex
    • Single Dads
  • Pregnancy
    • Labor or Delivery
    • Pregnant Wife
  • Baby
    • Baby Naming
    • Feeding
    • Sleep
    • Toilet Training
  • Kids
  • Teens
  • Activities
    • Local
    • By Age
    • Movie Reviews
    • Celebrations
  • Toys
    • We Recommend
    • Toys
  • Coaching for Dads
  • Great Dad Talks Podcast

Five minutes with Craig Baird

March 23, 2010 by GreatDad Writers Leave a Comment

Craig Baird has written several books on parenting, including I’m Going To Be A Dad: Now What?, The Complete Guide To Investing in Index Funds, The Six Sigma Manual, A Complete Guide for Single Dads, as well as several short stories.

He talks about his experiences:

What is the one thing you think parents should know about your work?

When I started out on these books on fatherhood, I had no experience with being a father. I wanted to be able to present a fresh approach to fatherhood through my research and I thought that if I could learn about being a father, without experience, my readers would be able to as well. I learned so much through writing this book, and I hope my readers learn just as much from reading it.

What are your feelings about the role of the father in child development?

It cannot be underestimated. That is not to say that a child cannot grow up to be completely healthy in a single parent household, but the role of the father is very important, as is the role of the mother. Especially in young boys, their first role model is their father, and the actions of the father lay the groundwork for how the boy is going to act as they grow up. For both young girls and boys, the father is seen as a protector and there is a great deal of respect for their father. Through playing, talking and listening to his children, a father can show them that he is always there for them when they need him.

What is the best thing dads can do in the raising of their children?

Be there for them when they need him. A father needs to be able to sit and listen to his children and always have time for them. It is also important for the father to show confidence in his children and their decisions. Encouraging them and helping them reach their potential cannot be underestimated. It is also incredibly important for a father to be a role model for both their children. The father needs to show their children how to act through their own actions. When a child sees their father yell at a waiter/waitress about an order, the father is setting a bad example that the children will begin to emulate as they get older.

What is the biggest error dads can make in raising their children?

Being a bad role model is a big one, as I mentioned. However, one of the biggest mistakes a father makes is not always having time for their children. Children are young only once and often when a father is gone during the formative years, there is resentment in the teenage years and beyond. It can also be hard for a child to respect their father if their father is never around. However, there are other errors that a father can make including ignoring their children (even accidentally), not encouraging them and not having time to talk with them and listen to them.

It’s been said that the greatest regret aging men have is that they didn’t spend more time with their kids. How do you feel about that statement?

I think that is exactly right. We all have the best of intentions when our children are born to be fathers who are always there but life and work often gets in the way. Fathers need to juggle working to provide and being their for their children and it is not always easy. Your child is only five once, they only have a first day of school once, they only walk for the first time once and so on. Those moments can never be recreated and for a father who is often away from home, it is a hard thing to deal with.

Every generation worries that their kids aren’t strong enough to handle the real world. Do you feel kids need to be “toughened up” by experiencing rough times?

I think that children born in the 1960s and beyond have all had pretty good lives. Our standard of living has gone up, education has improved and leisure activities have greatly increased. Children today have better lives than those that came before them but that does not mean they need to be toughened up. Yes, rough times do help make a person strong and capable, but it is just as easy to have an easy upbringing and be strong when one gets older. Resilience and strength does not come from experiencing tough times, it comes from gaining confidence through parents encouraging their children. Confidence “toughens” a person up and makes them believe that they can achieve anything and defeat any problem. Many parents may feel that kids today are too smothered with love, and while there are some extreme examples (banning tag in schools because it may hurt feelings of those tagged) of making sure everyone is happy, I would say that this current generation of children is the most balanced ever. Most children get a balance between discipline and love and that helps turn them into healthy individuals who succeed in life. As with anything, there needs to be a balance. You cannot be too hard on your children or they will come to resent you, and you cannot be too easy on your children or they may come to rely only on you and not themselves. Balance is key. A father is not only a friend, but they are a disciplinarian, and it is sometimes a tough balance to maintain.

Filed Under: Dad

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Great Dad Talks

Great Dad Talks
Great Dad Talks

Great Dad Talks is a series of conversations with experts on all aspects of the family adventure. With the perspective that “dads don’t always think like moms,” our mission is to support dad voices and our slightly different approaches to parenting. We’ll try to find solutions to every day challenges like getting kids off the couch and making STEM classes available for both boys and girls. But we’ll also tackle bigger issues when they come. The one main theme will be to support dads in the most important role of their lives that of being a great dad.

Connect with us at greatdad.com and watch the video version of these podcasts at YouTube.com/greatdadnews

Hacking Life After 50 with Mark Barnes
byPaul Banas

Tune in to this episode with guest Mark Barnes and delve into the topics of finding purpose, setting goals, and navigating life transitions. Mark shares his insights and personal experiences on how dads can continue to thrive and find fulfillment as their children grow up and their own lives shift. From planning for the future to staying curious and staying in shape, Mark provides valuable advice and strategies for dads in different stages of life.

Navigate life’s transitions with purpose and fulfillment by visiting Mark’s website: 10publications.com

Visit these links and embark on the path to becoming the best parent you can be:

  • GreatDad.com/coaching
  • GreatDad.com/pq
  • Gratitude course: bit.ly/3NMLDNC 50% off for podcast listeners with code PODCAST50
Hacking Life After 50 with Mark Barnes
Hacking Life After 50 with Mark Barnes
September 26, 2023
Paul Banas
Building Authentic Connections with Ron Macklin
September 19, 2023
Paul Banas
Navigating College Admissions with Dr. Kuni Beasley
September 12, 2023
Paul Banas
Longevity and Healthy Aging with Al Lyman
September 7, 2023
Paul Banas
Balancing Entrepreneurship and Fatherhood with Cory Rankin
August 31, 2023
Paul Banas
The Role of Fathers in Parenting with Brent Dowlen
August 31, 2023
Paul Banas
Empowering Kids Through Sports with Antwaun Thompson
August 24, 2023
Paul Banas
Promoting Healthy Screen Time Habits with Hamel Shah
August 15, 2023
Paul Banas
Building Strong Connections through Family Meals with Jeff Christian
August 11, 2023
Paul Banas
Supporting Kids Through Sports with Michael Hubicki
August 1, 2023
Paul Banas
Search Results placeholder

More to See

How Podcasting Can Help Entrepreneurs with Evans Putnam

September 2, 2023 By Paul Banas

Making Financial Decisions with Jasper Smith

July 20, 2023 By Paul Banas

Copyright © 2023 . GreatDad