WORKING FULL TIME AND BEING A PRESENT FATHER
To me one of the things that gave me anxiety about becoming a father was that I never wanted to be one of those dads that work all day and barely sees their kids. If that was the case, I would rather not bring a child into the world. It simply isn’t fair to them. Children need both parents to be there and be very present. I run my family business and its location isn’t exactly close by and my job requires lots of attention to detail and time, any business owner would tell you that. So, how do you become a dedicated and present dad while also being a provider? Truth is, there is no one way or a set formula for you to be present and active in your kids life. You just do the best that you possibly can.
With any job, there comes very hard days. It’s not every day that I come home like a husband in the 50’s with all the energy and happiness in the world and say “HONEY, IM HOME!” Absolutely not! Life is not a 1950’s T.V show. Sometimes work drains me so much that I come home and take a nap. However, whatever kind of day you have, however hard it may have been, your little one still greets you with open arms saying “DADDY!” That alone is enough for me to forget my troubles at work and smile from ear to ear.
What I do each morning before work, I make sure I spend just a little extra time with them before I leave. Whether its changing them, picking them up from the crib or even playing with them a little. When I get home, I make sure I spend time with each of them before bedtime. Each child requires a different type of attention: with Dominic, he likes it when we carry him and talk to him, he just stares and smiles at us. Arianna is older so she requires a little bit more activity such as pretend play, reading, drawing, sliding on her swing set. She loves it when I sit on her play mat and play with her. On the weekends, I am fortunate enough to be home and that is when I give both of them my all. My weekends are completely dedicated to my family. Whatever the case may be, we all do our best to be the best possible parent while providing for our family. Children have no idea what type of bank account you have, nor do they care. It’s not about material, it about you being a present parent and showing your kids an abundance of love. At least thats my opinion...