Father Knows Best: Or Not.

I know we often miss the good old days, but we also fail to notice the ways that things are better today. Like the role of Dads, for example. I am grateful to have been born into an era where a Dad was expected to be more than just a stoic provider. I am glad that today's Dads are expected to be more involved in the lives of their children but are allowed to just be themselves.
In my earlier parenting years I tried, without success, to be a perfect Dad. It was a great revelation for me when I realized that was not only impossible, but unhelpfu.From watching Dads daily in my divorce practice, as well as being a father to my own children, I have come to believe that the best gift a father (or any parent) can give to their children is to express your love for them by simply Showing Up in a genuine way.
Looking back over the years, I am grateful that I was generally able to show up to be a regular part of their lives. Sometimes that meant coaching them in sports or attending school events.Sometimes that meant simply making sure I was home for dinner every night or simply sitting in the next room while they worked on their homework. And sometimes that just meant being a real human being: laughing, crying, making mistakes, showing weakness and letting them know that no one has to be perfect.
When I was growing up, there was a popular TV show called Father Knows Best. Like many shows of that era it starred a flawless Father. That was not me. I did not always know best. Sometimes I did not have a clue. But somehow, I helped raise three amazing children, so maybe showing up and loving them was all I was required to do. Who knew?