How important are dads? Or moms? Do we need both genders in the home?
When my son was born, people often commented on how I’d “find a man” to complete the household someday. :rolleyes: I rejected that on a lot of fronts. It’s like saying widowers can’t be fantastic parents, or that same-sex couples shouldn’t be raising children, or that foster or adoptive parents can’t be single.
I think kids need mature and loving adults, period.
My son has made me a Father’s Day card every year since he was three. (He thought it wasn’t fair I didn’t get a card.) He’s planning something for me tomorrow morning. (I bet it’s toast and coffee.)
A little while ago I realized I’d been so busy with fulltime work that I haven’t been playing with my son as much. I was tired…and I was teaching summer school…and where did I put that baseball glove? In a sudden panic, I consulted my son on what’s a mom to do. So we came up with the Summer of Awesome, in which he decided that there are certain things every boy must do (or be taught to do) in the summer. We put these things on the Summer of Awesome calendar. Some examples:
[ul]
[li]Build a rocket. [/li][li]Play basketball. (He’s horrible at it…glad he’s got the smart thing going for him.)[/li][li]Swim. A lot. As much as you can. (Made it without floaties by Day 3! What a fish!)[/li][li]Find a place that will let him be in a go-kart.[/li][li]Ride a bike without training wheels.[/li][li]Go to an amusement park.[/li][li]Play baseball.[/li][li]Learn how to box. (Not sure where that came from, but I signed him up for camp.)[/li][li]Hit up the science museum again, because there is NO SUCH THING as TOO MUCH DINO.[/li][/ul]
He also told me that all good dads buy their kids Beyblades and Legos.
The ‘mom’ in me had a running list that went something like:
[ul]
[li]Put the toilet seat down.[/li][li]Help carry groceries.[/li][li]Have good manners. (Yes ma’am and sir and such, because that’s how I grew up.)[/li][li]Open the door for people.[/li][li]Give to charity.[/li][li]Get good grades.[/li][/ul]
and such.
So Dopers, what do I add to the “Things All Dads Need to Teach Their Sons” list? He’s seven, so not old enough to shave or anything yet. I have the world’s sweetest kid and I don’t want to f it up.
Also, Happy Father’s Day to the awesome Doper dads, uncles, big brothers, grandparents and all-around awesome dudes.