Like most men when I was blessed with a family I went directly into provide and protect mode. My attention was solely on finding problems and fixing them. I got caught up in being just the provider,just the protector and I left all the nurturing up to my kids mother. Society has taught us that men and women have to stay in these gender role boxes but it doesn't have to be this way. Now a days both parents are working, or the children are being raised in two households. This means that the parenting duties need to be split somewhat equally or the children will be missing something.
It took me awhile to learn to directly focus on my kids. Even now I still have to work at just being daddy. I’m still working on listening to my kids and talking to them. It is harder for most men then you would think ladies to be an active participant in raising children. I’ve learned that I don’t really have to say a lot to my girls to be nurturing. I just have to be near them and they’ll do most of the talking. Guys you’ll be surprised how easy it is to bond with your kids just by asking them to help you with simple task, like handing you a towel to dry off a dish or throwing your scrap piece of paper away while you’re creating a workout or working. To your kids you are SuperMan, even if you’re really Clark Kent lol and they want to be your side-kick. My girls love helping me with things. Just the other day I was practicing MMA and they jumped up to join in. You might not ever be as good as mommy but that doesn’t mean you can’t be involved and have a meaningful relationship with your children. Women go to play dates with kids all the time and they automatically form these packs with other moms. You can do the same thing but with the dads. Remember Birds of a feather flock together. Seek out other dads to be friends with and spending time with your children will become more fluently.
