GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR FAMILY!

I think the thing dad’s have to do is realise they’re human…and that there are not 150 hours in a day to achieve everything they want to do – I cannot possibly clean the house, cook the family a lovely meal, finish off all the work I set out to do, please all my clients, go to the gym, see my friends, catch a movie, spend some time with my wife…in a day!! But sometimes now if I manage to do a few of these things then I’m happy.

I find going to a dad’s drop in on a Saturday a really great thing to do. It’s dad’s only and is a fantastic way to spend time with my little boy – the dads talk about their kids, their lives and it just makes you feel that you are doing a good job and that there are others not getting enough sleep or wondering about buggies and prams too…

I’m writing this at 5am as my son woke with a nightmare and needed consoling. And I have to say that even though it was 4am and I’m exhausted there is nothing quite like having that little bundle next to you going from tears and crying to smiling and cuddling you because…well because you’re his dad.

Danny, there isn’t a parent who hasn’t felt every one of these feelings. My son told me that his piggy bank would be full if he got a quarter for the times a day I say, “Just a minute.” One day he was fed up and wrote Ben’s Running Away to Japan list (Nintento was born there so it is Mecca). It included Ninja clothes, a jack knife, chopsticks, money, DS, 15 PBJs, and Kool-Aid. Keep doing what you’re doing.
Nancy from the OC edition. P.S. I found this reading the GregH backstory, and I understood about 4/5ths of it!

Hi Danny,
This is Kenichi.
I was moved to read your article. I have the same feeling as you though I’m a Japanese because I have a three-year-old son.
It seems to me that you’re a good father and he loves you very much.

Thanks for the posting this Danny. I’m a relatively new dad (16 months, with a 2nd on the way) and I’m already starting to see that the roles of “Provider Dad”, “Being There Dad”, and “Being There Husband” is a delicate balance to pull off.
The solutions I’m working on right now are either a) don’t sleep b) pick two of three c) clear boundaries & schedules. A & B aren’t really options so I’m working on C.
I can tell you’re a great dad and I’m sure your family agrees (see:treehouse). Continuing to re-evaluate how you’re doing & what you can do to make it better is probably the best thing we can do to improve – so this is definitely inspiring in that regard.

Danny,
Great post! As father of two boys (8 and 4) — I also have many of the same struggles. I am also the only bread winner in our family and my work and travel take a lot of my time. At the end of the day it is critical to find the right balance to make that we could all be great dads!
Sincerely,
Steve

You are definately not alone in your thoughts, Danny!
Its exacly the same issues I have been struggling with. The problem is I want it all – be a great father, a great husbond, a great business mand and a world traveler – all at the same time.
However, as time goes I realize that my wife and my kids are the two most important things in my life