At-home dad legend and well-known author, Hogan Hilling, recently published a new book, 30 Things Future Moms Should Know About How New Dads Feel. As fathers, there is so much guidance we want to impart on our wives and other moms, but most of us are too gun shy to say it. Not, Tom Matlack, of Good Men Project!
Matlack published an article on Babble this week with depth, honesty, and a great message – it’s a worthwhile read: Raising Boys: A dad’s parenting advice for moms. His top 10 list is intended for mothers of boys, but it hit home with me – a dad of a 2 1/2 year old boy. It’s one of those articles you read a couple of times, not because it was a dense read, but because you want to make sure you absorbed all of his advice.
This point had me nodding my head in complete agreement…
•Watch his body not his mouth. Again, like adult men, the clues to how your son is doing will show up first in his body language. Jumping up and down with six-inch vertical leaps is the natural state of being and is good. Slumped shoulders are bad. Yelling is good. Quiet needs attention.
The other point that I am in agreement with – even though I like to toot my own horn that I am a good dad…truth is, I believe my wife is the better parent. Bravo to Babble (“For a New Generation of Parents” this week) for including content from a well respected, active, and engaged dad! Keep it coming.
Dads – feel free to take this opportunity to hop on your soap box, and share your one piece of infinite wisdom for the mom’s…
Thanks Lance for this. I have been reminded in the comments on the piece that all boys (and all dads, moms and girls) are unique so what I am talking about is my experience with my two boys. If it made you think about your own and how you father, and shed any light on boys for the moms out there, that is all gravy.
Just got done with my boy’s 6th birthday party. Treasure Hunt, pizza, cake all complete. Wiped out daddy and mommy. Cole, my son, is still going…