Introduction

You, who will soon be married and become a father, will understand when little bright, mischievous eyes look at you. Your child, no matter how small, is able to judge your feelings, your attitude towards them, and your role in the family. This child will learn to respect you, to admire you. As soon as they can speak and want to express the desire to become someone in life, they will say: “I want to be like Dad!”

Being a Loving and Disciplined Parent

At first, this child you will love with all your heart will expect you to be strict. Therefore, you must cultivate and maintain your health, be strong—strong for a long time, until your child grows up to be strong and mature. 

Representing a Protective Force

You must also be strong for this dear little one—master of yourself, courageous and just; you must represent protective strength, reason, stability, and security. Sometimes your child will put their small hand in yours, seeming lost in your big hand; at that moment, you will feel how much they rely on you, and for nothing in the world would you want to disappoint this being you will be so proud to protect and love. And this child, with their burning thirst for pure joy, will want to see you in a good mood, to glimpse happiness in your eyes. They will watch you carefully to see if you are approachable or, on the contrary, momentarily grumpy or irritable. Your attitude must invite them joyfully and confidently to ask you a thousand wise and silly questions. You must therefore educate yourself and be able to explain how a car engine works, the secret of the airplane, what flowers and roots are for, where the stars, birds, and even babies come from!

Offering Support and Help

Your child will also need your help. They will want to make a toy, take another apart; maybe they will have broken one. Naturally, Dad is the helper and adviser without whom the task would never be finished. You may need to wipe a few tears and encourage them by saying: “It’s nothing, my dear, come, we will fix it.”

Sharing Playtime Moments

And then they will want to play, wrestle with you to test their strength. From time to time, you will let yourself be defeated a little to give them confidence. You will help them understand that one day they will be stronger than you, and then they will have to help and honour your white hair.

Being a Role Model for Your Child

This child, you see, will still watch you to learn how to behave. Whatever you do, they will think it’s right; they will imitate everything: your politeness, your smile, your graceful walk, but also the way you slam the door or moisten your finger to turn the pages of a book.

Conclusion

Now, listen well. You won’t have much trouble bringing your child into the world, but when they are here, you must commit yourself. For that, you see, you will need to be present at home. Maybe the children will still be asleep when you leave for work, maybe they will already be in bed when you return. However, there are hours during the week when you can, and must, be with them. Don’t use that time to bury yourself in a newspaper or phone, and above all, don’t go out alone. Make it a habit to spend your free time with your wife and children. What is expected of you at home is that you exercise healthy authority. But be careful, not inflexible, nor stubborn. Simply be kind enough, fair, and reasonable so that your advice, your orders if necessary, are seen as just. Don’t impose them; suggest them, insist when needed but always kindly; explain your request so that it is clear it is not a whim, that you demand nothing for your comfort or peace of mind, but everything so that those around you are happy and make progress.

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