--- title: Never Forget, You are a Father! description: Put this on your wall at work or your bathroom, where you will see it every day. A reminder of the important things in life, as a father. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hub/135704/file-1509097064.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/never-forget-you-are-a-father#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [Tips & Tricks](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/tips-tricks) # Never Forget, You are a Father! 2 min read [** Michael Byron Smith ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/michael-byron-smith) is a retired Air Force officer and civilian engineer. His chosen area to give back to society is as an advocate for better fathering. His book, tentatively entitled "The Power of Dadhood" will be published by Familius.com in Spring 2015. He also writes a blog for dads called "Helping Fathers to be Dads." Here’s something to put on your wall at work or your bathroom, where you will see it every day. A reminder of the important things in life, as a father.  Most of us men are good people, but too many of us are not as adept at being good fathers. The difference lies in everyday life and our priorities. Some men are intentional about placing a career ahead of ‘Dadhood’. Many more of us do the same thing, but we do it subconsciously. When your children grow up, they will most likely think of you with love--but will they have your respect? We must occasionally stop, look, and listen to our children and our role as their father. ![never_forget_you_are_a_father national fatherhood initiative](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hub/135704/file-1509097064.jpg?width=550&name=file-1509097064.jpg "never_forget_you_are_a_father national fatherhood initiative") **Some Things to Ponder:** - When you’ve been in the office for 60 hours this week, don’t forget you’re a father. - When your buddies want you to stop by after work for a drink, do it, maybe. But don’t forget you are a father.  - When you are watching the ballgame, and your child asks you a question, remember, you are a father. - When you are trying to catch up with maintaining your house, and your young son wants to ‘help’, don’t forget you are his father. - When your daughter asks you to take her to the mall, take her. But ask a lot of questions and place limitations first. Remember, you’re her father. - When your child needs a hug, or a smile, or a stare-down, remember, you’re their father. - When a dance recital is scheduled during the Master’s tournament, remember to record it. The Masters--not the dance recital! After all, you are a father. - When you don’t live with your children, at least live for your children. After all, you are their father and they need you. - Never forget to be around for the milestones. Is work really more important than the first day of school? Maybe so, around .1 percent of the time! - Never forget to discipline your kids when they need it. Be firm but do not yell or shake!  - Never forget to ask them how they are doing, at school, with friends, with their siblings, etc. Talk with them--not at them.  - Never forget to be respectful to their mother and to be a partner to her, especially for your kids’ needs.  - Never forget that neither you, nor your children are perfect. Be patient. - Never forget that they are not you. Let them be the person they are, but guide them as their father. Many of these reminders are reminders your kids may want you to ignore, like disciplining or asking too many questions of them. They want you to ignore those actions for that moment, but they want you to be interested enough to be concerned for them and to mold them. Understand that you don’t fail as a father if you don’t comply with these reminders 100 percent of the time. It’s the attitude you have as a dad, not 24/7 perfection. For instance, if it were the ninth inning of the World Series and my daughter asked me to do something with her, I would say, “Okay, but wait until this game is over.”  You can explain later why you asked her to wait, if necessary. As long as you are aware that you are a father, never feel guilty about time to yourself! You need it! You deserve it! And you will definitely be a better father for it! Just carefully balance your children’s need with yours. For a further look into your role as a dad, see my “[Dads Self-Inspection Checklist](http://michaelbyronsmith.com/1/post/2014/06/a-dads-self-inspection-checklist-a-fathers-day-review.html)”. It will help you to decide where and if you may need to improve your fatherly skills. *image: iStockPhoto*     Date Published: 09/02/2014 Last Updated: 09/02/2014 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/in-theaters-friday-the-identical) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/what-great-leaders-know-that-others-dont) ## Related Articles ### [Limited Blog Series: Supporting My Co-Parent Image created with GPT Image 2. Quick Confidence Builds are brief activities that practitioners can use when working with dads in face-to-face or virtual group-based or one-on-one ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/supporting-my-co-parent) ### [Five Leadership Practices That Build Father-Inclusive Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. 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