“What I Want” from another unnamed but successful dad:

I want my children to find God’s path for them, so…
I must accept the reality that each child is God’s unique creation. This means they will have gifts and passions that may not exactly match my gifts and passions. It is good to introduce my children to the things I have a passion for but I should not try to force my children to be like me or push them to pursue the things that I enjoy. I should encourage and help my children to find their own interests.

I want my children to know they are loved, so…
Children need to hear the words “I love you” come out of their father’s mouth on a regular basis starting early in life. My children will never get too old to hear this from me.

I want my children to value and seek Godly integrity, so…
My children need to witness their father living out the principles of God’s Word. This is how they will know their father believes what he says.

I want my children to develop self-control, so…
Boundaries need to be established for every child. The boundaries should get larger as the children demonstrate they can be trusted. When the boundaries are breached, it is up to me to be sure there are consequences. Every time.

I want my children to be successful, so…
I must give them enough rope to become independent and fail. When they fail—and they will—I must be quick to rescue them with unconditional love and help them find their way back to the right track.

I want my children to have right relationships, so…
I must be sure they witness their father loving and caring for their mother.

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