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10 Things I’ve Learned About Being a Dad for 10 Years
I don’t know if I’m any good at this yet, but I’m trying
This Sunday will be my 10th Father’s Day as a father. My first son was born in November 21, 2011, and not a single thing in my life has been the same since. I did not know how tumultuous the next 10 years of American life would be when my son was born. I’ve learned a lot about myself, and my country, and my fellow citizens, in those 10 years. But I’ve learned even more about being a father.
In honor of those 10 Father’s Days, here are 10 Things I’ve Learned About Being a Father.
1. Schedules are everything, even when you ignore them.
My wife and I are both extremely busy people and have to adhere to a strict schedule so we can get everything done and still have time to, you know, still see our children. But children appreciate schedules too. Structure is a basic foundational pillar of childhood, not only to provide some constancy and reliability in a kid’s life, but also so that they (and you, as parents) know when the schedule can be bent or even shattered a bit when circumstances warrant. To have a clear outline for your day — and, I’d argue, a defined and regular bedtime — is to have both a comfortable routine and considerable excitement when…
