Hey Dad!

Without claiming any unique expertise as a father, I would like to make six practical suggestions to my fellow dads. 

First: Give time. Not money, not possessions, but your time. It means something to our children and grands to spend time with time and creates memories never forgotten.

Second: Heal what needs to be healed. Whether it's a skinned knee, a bully at school, lost love, failure at work or confusion about decisions, we must heal the deeper wound, namely, that awful aloneness which only love can heal.

Third: Love each child. Not all children are equally easy to love. But fathers must try. For the scar of being lesser in the eyes of one whose approval is everything cuts deep throughout life.

Fourth: Recognize what is important to each child and show interest in it.

Fifth: Live with integrity. A man's power, wealth, political leanings and religious opinions mean little to children. They study Dad's character. 

Sixth: Live freely. Don't be an emotionally distant fathers.

Dads, I doubt that we will be remembered for how much money we earned, how far we rose in our careers, how fervent we were in our opinions, or how dashing in appearance. Children need more from us. While we have the chance, we must give them time, healing, love, recognition, integrity and freedom.

One more thing: Many children are separated from their fathers by war, estrangement, incarceration, accident, illness or death. Those children still need what a father can give. Let's step up to help.