What makes a good Father?

Everybody has dreams for their life .  Many dream of being a star.  Some want to be  a doctor or a lawyer.  Funny thing is, what I really wanted to be had nothing to do with a career.  I wanted to be "Daddy".  I looked forward to a idyllic life with a "love at first sight" wife and a houseful of kids who unconditionally loved their "Daddy". Maybe I was lucky to have a Dad I loved and respected. Our Dad was a great role model.   We had plenty of attention, plenty of support, plenty of love.  Our Dad didn't have to tell us every day he loves us.  We knew.  We still know.  As a result, I  believed that if a family loves each other, everything else would take care of itself. We could be happy  no matter what I did for a living. When I met a woman that already had 2 kids, and we were  both struck with the  sudden revelation that no other person is right for us, I had my chance at a dream come true, just in a different form than I expected.  I would do my best to earn the love of the kids, to be a "Dad".  Being Dad is tough sometimes though.   You will have to stop the kids from doing things that they shouldn't do, but they really want to do anyway.  This may cause a teenager to give you the cold shoulder or say they hate you in response.   You know they don't really mean it, but nevertheless your feelings will be crushed. Although you should expect it at some point, that is the hardest thing in the world to hear from your kid when all you ever really wanted to be was "dad". It is worth it though. They will understand someday.   Wanna be a good dad?  Love your kids (or step kids), all the same.  No playing favorites. All the kids are "our kids".  There are no "her kids" or "my kids".  Teach them all the same.  Make the hard decisions, even if they will not appreciate it right away.  Make sure they know you love them no matter what.  The rest will take care of itself.  I hope I did as well as my Dad.  I hope  all 4 of our kids love me as much as I love my Ol' Man.