Kirby Andersen

  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Store

TwitterFacebookInstagram

Live Better. Love More.
Leave A Legacy.

  • Parenting
  • Marriage
  • Health
  • Personal Development

Wednesday, September 07, 2016

Honoring Dad As The Family Hero

How Mom Can Protect An Attitude Of Respect For Dad On The Homefront

Comments … Email Print

By Gail Andersen

As a wife and mom, my attitude was not always perfect in regard to my husband and his role as a dad. Not that my husband wasn’t a great father—I just couldn’t always appreciate it.

34533171 - super dad with his kids. no transparency used. basic (linear) gradients.
Courtesy 123RF/malchev

But during those times when I didn’t feel he was fulfilling all my expectations for his role with the kids, I needed to make sure my disappointments were not picked up by little ears.

We are often tempted to use our children as a sounding board when we are disgruntled with our spouse. Statements like, “You know your dad—he’s just too busy to be able to do that,” or, “One of these days he’ll have time for us,” are really out of place when shared with our children.

Now don’t get me wrong—I have been just as guilty as the next gal in making comments such as these. But wrongfully so. And I regret those times that I gave in to emotional distress and let statements like those sneak out of my mouth.

Watch Your Heart. Watch Your Mouth.

All husbands struggle with balancing their responsibilities at work and making enough time to cover every need and desire on the homefront. Just like we wives struggle with meeting all of our own wishes and demands.

The key, instead, is to process our feelings in a healthy and helpful manner and speak positively about our spouse to our kids—and help them to do the same.

We want our children to respect their dad and to see him for all the positive impact he has in the family. Moms, a lot of this depends on how you view your husband and celebrate his role at home.

Here are a few ways to do that:

  1. Watch what you say about Dad. Especially when he disappoints in some way, guard your heart and watch your mouth. Our words go deep into hearts—ours and our children, so we need to make sure that what we are saying is building up and not tearing down. Especially when you are talking about Dad who may not even be around at the time. Whether it’s something that the kids are saying or what you are about to say yourself, turn those words around to be positive ones.

  2. Make it a big deal when Dad is home. Let the kids know that it’s a special time when Dad is able to be home for dinner, around on the weekend, or able to plan a Family Night for all to enjoy.

  3. Prepare for Dad’s daily homecoming at the end of the work day. Knowing how much coming home to a house that is peaceful and relatively in order meant to him, we liked to take the last bit of time before Dad’s arrival to do a quick pick up and to be prepared for him to arrive. Our kids would often wait in the driveway or stand at the door in salute as he walked in, then attacked him with hugs.

Since Mom is generally the one with the kids more often, making dad a star isn’t just a fun thing to do—it’s an essential way to create a healthy sense of honor among your kids.

Question: How do you as a mom help cultivate a culture of honor for Dad in the family? Share your answer in the comments below.

Filed Under: Marriage, Parenting

… Email Print

Like This Post?

Sign up for my blog updates and never miss a post. I’ll send you a FREE eBook as a thank-you.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links”. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Free eBook

7 Ways To Supercharge Your Family This Week

Great adventures begin with one step. So do great families. Creating a healthy, loving family isn’t complicated yet it does require doing relatively simple things consistently. That’s why I wrote my new ebook, 7 Ways To Supercharge Your Family This Week: Weekly Activities & Culture-Builders That Will Strengthen Your Family For a Lifetime.

It’s my gift to you—simply for subscribing to my free email newsletter.

About Me

I am a family man. I love and am deeply committed to my family—to become the best I can be for them. And I'm committed to you and your family. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to help others reach for their full potential and hit the mark for which they were created.

I live to help others become better versions of themselves at home and work—to not only weather life’s challenges and positively impact their world, but to raise their children to do the same. In short, to live better, love more, and leave a legacy.

I now write, speak, and coach full-time. I am married and have three sons and two daughters.

More about me →

TwitterFacebookInstagram

Top Posts

  • Preserving The Sanctity Of Mom And Dad's Bedroom
  • A Simple, Convenient Home Salad Bar That Lasts All Week
  • 6 Attributes Of The Dad Your Kids Deserve And Desire
  • Becoming A More Sensitive, Connected, And Supportive Spouse

© 2023 Kirby Andersen · Privacy Policy · Terms & Conditions · Contact Me

Get my free eBook

Enter your name and email address to subscribe to my newsletter and receive my free eBook: 7 Ways To Supercharge Your Family This Week: Weekly Activities & Culture-Builders That Will Strengthen Your Family For a Lifetime.