Lessons learned

Things I've learned in the 8+ yrs I've been a dad...

• Be a good husband. Show his mom respect at all times
• Teach him to keep a secret
• Set a strict bedtime as he's growing up. Boys need their sleep
• Let him know that he's never too old to take a nap
• Don't let him sleep in your bed, even if he's scared or sick. Sleep on the floor in his room
• Teach him to garden. It involves 3 things boys love- dirt, digging, and water hoses
• Accept the fact he just might play with dolls. It's no big deal
• Ask him what he did today. Listen to his answers
• Teach him how to dial 911, when and why
• Show him how to throw a punch. Then raise him to never start a fight. And teach him to walk away
• Take him on hikes and show him how to ford a stream. Let him get wet and dirty
• Let him hang out with you. Remember, he has to be around you, to learn what being a man is all about
• Reassure him he won't die if he spills a little blood
• Take your son to work with you every once in a while. Pay as much attention to him as you do other people in the office
• Tell him sometimes you're wrong
• Give him responsibility
• Make sure he knows he's always safe at home
• Don't tolerate temper tantrums. Not now. Not when he's 15. The world won't
• Scream at him and you will raise a screamer
• Don't let him quit out of frustration. He won't learn anything
• His favorite game for a long time will be playing with you. Be available, even when you're tired. Even when the presentation went south. Be available
• Insist he play outside a lot. It's much healthier than watching TV or playing computer games
• Never forget that you can't hug or cuddle or kiss a young boy too much
• Never tell him boy don't cry. Ask him why he's crying
• Teach him to respect authority but not to be in awe of it
• Encourage friendships with the white kid, the black kid, and the oriental kid who can barely speak English
• Don't forget the point of sports when you're a kid is to have fun
• Last but not least: Teach him that he can pick his friends and he can pick his nose but he can't pick his friends nose! Bwahaha...
  

That's all for now.
[Many of these were taken from "Father to Son: Life lessons on raising a boy" by Harry Harrison. I'm not smart enough to learn all of this on my own.]