Do you want to be a better dad and an active parent? If you love your children, then we know that you do. So here are some helpful steps you can take right now.
1. Admit There is Room for Improvement
There is usually not much room for improvement if you think you are perfect. As Christian men, however, we should be quick to admit our faults. We should admit them to the Lord, ourselves, and each other.
James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Admitting that there is room for improvement, to be a better dad takes humility and increases accountability.
As a biblical man that wants to honor God with the roles that he has given you, this is the first step.
2. Assess The Weak Areas
Here is the humbling part. I don’t want to call them failures, so let’s call them weaknesses. This is the brutally honest assessment, of where you are weakest as a Dad.
Here are some thought-provoking examples:
- Not having conversations with your teenage daughter, that SHE would consider meaningful.
- Not investing “guy time” with your teenage son.
- Not praying with your children every day.
- Not connecting with your children in their sports, hobbies, or activities.
- Not encouraging or praising them for doing right, only criticizing.
These are only a few examples that should provoke your attention to your weak areas.
Once again be honest in this assessment. Ask your wife if you need to, or even your children.
You could ask them “hey kids, what do you wish I did better as a dad, I want to improve”. That question alone will let them know how much you care.
3. Address The Obstacles
Whatever area/areas that you are weakest in, there are most likely some obstacles in your life that have caused them.
Take some time to pray, and ask the Lord to reveal those obstacles, so you can become a better dad.
It could be that you are just bad at connecting with teenagers.
(If so, our GREAT article “7 Amazing Parent Connection Strategies for Dads” – will help!)
Perhaps you are too busy and need to learn better time management skills.
Maybe you are working overtime because money is tight and you need to get on a real budget.
Whatever the obstacles are, as a biblical man, and active parent, you can overcome them.
Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.“
4. Acquire The Resources
Once you have identified the obstacles, now it’s time to overcome them with God’s help. You can do it.
Start collecting the resources you need to improve the situation. Your children need you to be a better Dad. Not that you are a failure, but a biblical man is always growing at every stage of life, fatherhood included.
Maybe you need to get a book on time management, read and implement it. If you need to get on a real workable budget so you don’t have to work so much overtime, then gather these resources and do it.
Whatever resources you need, just google it and get started being an overcomer.
5. Activate The Plan
The next step is to put it on the calendar. Get your calendar out, set some goal dates, and hold to them. Being an active parent means putting things on the schedule with a plan.
Put that Father/Daughter date on the calendar. Mark those ball games on the schedule. Plan that weekend camping trip.
When you are at those events, put your smartphone away, and engage, connect, and involve yourself with your children.
Lastly, if you think about your childhood, you find this is true. Your kids will remember what you did “all the time”, and they will remember “the big things” you did together.
So make sure there is plenty of both. The key – is to start now, and take as big of a step as you can, in the right direction.
(If you found this post helpful, then please share it on your social media – other men need it too!)
