Triple The Dad

As a follow-up to Monday's post I'm now going to discuss what probably makes you a better Dad than me.  Here goes: You probably have better foresight than I do.  I get myself into a lot of child-related problems simply because I don't look far into the future.  Not even "far," like an hour.  I sometimes end up with crying babies simply because I haven't thought far enough ahead to make bottles in advance, or to prep their highchairs for feeding time.  If it wasn't for the planning of my dear wife, the kids would probably be sitting in one of the two pieces of clothing (dirty, of course) we had for them crying while I frantically make a bottle that is probably 20 minutes overdue. You are probably manlier than I am, and that will do you well in some instances, especially with your sons.  I'm a lot a things; especially manly isn't one of them.  Most of the time I'm OK with that, as I said in Monday's post, I'm comfortable with who I am...

"Better" is hard word to apply to parenting children.  Every child, and indeed, every situation requires its own unique touch.  Its one reason why there are 1 million + advice books, and some higher magnitude order of individual pieces of advice.  What works for you in one situation may not work in another.  Heck, what works with one kid might not work with another kids in the same circumstance, or even the same kid in that circumstances.  If you are reading this post, I most likely don't have to tell you that. Its one reason why I think strictly following or adhering to a certain formulaic parenting style is wrong.  When I hear parents say "I absolutely won't do X," I shudder a little.  We should be doing what works for our kids, not what our own beliefs are. With that in mind, I believe there are some macro-level things that can help any child in any situation.  Here are the 5 areas in which I probably excell more than most Dads.