Latter-day Saint Life

11 Ways Fathers Can Make a Difference in Their Child’s Life

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MR says: Father's have such an influence on the lives of their children. Here are some simple ways that all dads out there can guarantee their influence will be for the better and will bring the most to their kids' lives.

Dr. James Dobson from Focus on the Family interviewed .Dr Kevin Lehman, who is a psychologist and very popular Christian author of books, about raising children.

I . . . thought I would share some highlights from the interview.

Give each child a responsibility in the home.

Dr. Lehman had a great quote: “Everybody in our family gives back to the family.  This isn’t a hotel.  It is a home.  Big difference.”

Believe in your kids.

If you show faith in them, it will help them have faith in themselves.

If you doubt them, they will reflect that as well.

Be willing to accept and own your mistakes.

This point was a good one, because I feel pulled in so many directions sometimes.  I work as hard as possible to provide for my family.  I try and make time for each individual kid and my wife.  I volunteer at our church and am gone in the evenings sometimes each week.  I’m tired at the end of the day. My patience isn’t where it should be always…I could go on, but you get the idea.  I’m human.  It is important for us to allow ourselves to be human and when (not if) we make mistakes, don’t be too hard on ourselves and remember that we should own up to the mistakes, apologize to our kids when we make them, and then try better next time.

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