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5 New Years resolutions every dad should make

January 3, 2015 by Paul Banas Leave a Comment

The new year is upon us but it’s not too late to get your new year’s resolutions down. It’s very important to write them down and share them with your family so it’s  just that much harder to forget your good intentions. Here are five resolutions that should be on every dad’s list, whether new or old dad.

1. Read to your kids more.  Even if they are older and into their teens, find time on a regular basis to snuggle up and read something you both enjoy. Now is a good time to take stock on whether you are doing this enough already. It’s easy to get tired and skip “just tonight,” but reading together has benefits beyond just creating readers; it grows the family bonds and strengthens your relationship. Ideally, try to do this 3 to 4 times per week.

2. Resolve to say “I love you” more often. Some dads shy away from this, especially to little boys. We often think kids need to toughen up, but my theory is that we as parents need to help build a storehouse of love and self-respect that will strengthen our kids from inside. No one has ever become weaker by feeling loved. For young kids, target five times a day and at least one for older kids. While you’re at it, make sure to tell your partner as well. 

3. Stay home more often. Especially if you’re a young dad, it’s tempting to feel you need time away from the family for whatever reason. You need your space or you’re losing yourself to your kids. In the moment, it’s easy to forget that the biggest legacy you will leave is in the strength of your relationship with your children. The time you spend now will be paid back tenfold when they still want to spend time with you in their teenage years. Not every dad can count on that but the ones who know their kids when they are little enjoy adolescence a lot more than the others. I see it every day.

4. Be the parent and not the dictator. We all fall into it. We hold the power and can wield it for good, or just because we have it. Believe me, if you can restrain yourself from demanding things from your kids and being polite, you’ll not only get better results, but mutual respect will grow. The biggest challenge is when you respectfully ask them to run to the kitchen to get the salt. If they rebel and say no, what do you do. That might be the moment to have a talk rather than to yell. 

5. Say “please” and “thank you. What’s good for the goose, is good for the gander.  It’s one of the greatest parental joys to hear your child say “please” when out at someone else’s home. 

Personally, I’ll be working on numbers 1 and 4. Our reading has fallen after getting stuck on book 3 of The Benedict Society.  We need to step up our game in the new year. 

 

Happy new year to all!

 

 

 

 

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About Paul Banas

Paul Banas is happy married dad of two great kids living in San Francisco. He writes now about kids, new technology and how the two interact for GreatDad.com and for Pregnancy Magazine (pregnancymagazine.com) where he is also the publisher.

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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

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In this insightful episode of Great Dad Talks, expert guest Dr. Travis Parry explores the intricacies of modern fatherhood, particularly focusing on entrepreneurial couples and achieving family balance. Dive into his personal journey as he discusses the profound influence of his father, the importance of managing stress, and the surprising role of financial stability in marital happiness. Together, we unravel the keys to balancing business growth with family priorities and how couples can align their financial values for long-term success. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or simply keen on strengthening your family dynamics, this conversation is packed with wisdom and practical advice.

Check out Dr. Parry’s website at travisparry.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  

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