How Do Your Kids See You?

We’re all doing our best, navigating fatherhood without a manual. We learn and grow along the way.

But, it’s time to reflect. Are you genuinely proud of how your child perceives you? This is a question I ask myself constantly, hoping my son sees me as a positive role model and all around good dude. I think we all struggle with things daily. Are we doing enough? Are we doing too much? Am I actually a good dad?

My father was an incredible man, and I miss him every day. He worked hard, away from home for months, sacrificing time with us to provide for our family. Though we were close, our time together was limited. I respect the men who make these sacrifices; it’s a tough choice. While my dad and I didn’t spend loads of time doing fun stuff, he wasn’t at many of my sports games, we didn’t spend anytime working out together or doing jiu-jitsu, I still have an immense amount of love and respect for him. He was the best father I ever could have had.

I miss him every single day.

Do your kids see you as a standout dad compared to their friends' dads? Or other dads in your neighbourhood? Do you feel other dads outshining you? For me, this is important. Ben sees me pushing my limits daily – walking on my hands down the street during workouts, sparring in jiu-jitsu, and coaching him on his squats and other things in the garage gym. This is the stuff drives me, and it’s a focus on health and fitness that Ben has naturally adopted. It wasn’t forced; it just became part of his life. Full disclosure, he did grow up in a gym…

How we’re viewed as dads profoundly impacts our children. Do we want them to remember us being hungover on weekends, or striving to be better? Do we want to be the “used to be” dad who tells stories about how “before you were born I was in amazing shape” or how you used to play sports, or do you want to be the one who continuously improves and still does all those things? Our actions now will shape our children's futures and the generations to come.

Listen, I’m not saying you have to be in amazing shape physically to be a great father, not at all. But, it helps to show them what discipline can do and it will help all of us lead a longer and happier life. One of my biggest worries is not being here to watch him grow into an amazing man and father.

The time is now to step up and be the dad your kids deserve, I don’t know if you are paying attention, but wow…we are sorta of losing our way. I’m not seeing a lot super fit and strong dads out there.

Time to lose the dad bod and the excuses. Let's create a legacy of active, involved, and continuously improving fathers. Be selfish, because in the end taking care of yourself…is taking care of everyone in your family. Are you in?

Hit me up with an email or a message on social on what you are doing daily to stay ahead of the ordinary. I will compile a list to share in the future.