haroldfinch

My own father was harsh, complicated, difficult to deal with.

I always thought I'd do the opposite.

What I learned later on was to ask my own children what their day was like, what excited them, how I could help them when they needed it most... and then you need to listen. Even if they're asking silly things, things they have yet to learn, that's how you find that connect.

And to some extent I try to balance the discipline by thinking, if I drop dead tomorrow, will I have prepared them as best as I could to become their own person? Will I have done it in a way that they'll remember me fondly?

So far my kids have always said I am a great dad, all the same I ask myself if I could do better every day.

I think the question you started with here is the most important one though, how can you do great/better.

This is such a missed opportunity.

The barrel should've been a Tribble.