Grumpy Daddy
on Dec 02 in General by DanI have always prided myself on being a good dad. Over the last six months or so however I’ve started to become disappointed in my performance. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a bad father by any stretch of the imagination; but for one reason or another I have become a little more irritable, a little less tolerant, a little quicker to raise my voice, and a little slower to get down on the floor and play.
That’s part of the reason I wanted to take November off blogging. So I could try and concentrate on actually being a dad for a while rather than just writing about it. and I think it’s worked. I’ve a way to go yet, but I’m now reaching a point where I feel comfortable in claiming I’m a good dad again. At least some of the time anyway.
One of the advantages of this whole daddyblogging business is that you can often get advice and support from people, sometimes without that person even realizing that they are providing it. Here’s some words of wisdom that have stuck in my consciousness and have helped me rethink the way I have been behaving with my children. they aren’t exactly direct quotes, but I think I’ve been able to get across the core messages:
- If you are unhappy in one aspect of your life don’t let that poison the parts that you are happy with.
Greg from Greg and Deb on the Web - It’s important to differentiate between a child who is being naughty and a child who is just being five years old.
(un)relaxeddad from Relaxed Parents - Every father should have a spark.
Roald Dahl from Danny the Champion of the World (OK, not a blog. But still true)
and I also add a bit of advice of my own creation:
- Get more sleep.
Related posts:
- Be good Amy, or daddy will hit you with this broadsword
- The reason I blog so much
- A-Z of Hadrian’s Bloggers: JJ Daddy-O & Jo Beaufoix
- Happy father’s day
- No one call me Big Daddy
« « Advent Colander: Dec 1st| Julia Nunes – Accidentally in love » »
Hey! Welcome back – glad you’re refreshed and thanks for the prop. Very much empathise with your motivation. Timely reminder of my own advice too! “Get more sleep”, well, if only :(
I’m pretty convinced that this whole period of development (the four to five year old) is all about stress-testing parents. And school means they get so tired by the end of the day, which is when most of our grumpiness occurs, that impulse control just vanishes.
(un)relaxeddads last blog post..NaBloPoMo 2008: 29 – Swans Children of God and 1987
Sleep, meditation & exercise.
This is what works for me. It sounds so simple, yet it is so hard to do. I feel your pain.
Glad you are finding your center again.
Peace,
babbo
http://www.daddybrain.wordpress.com
babbos last blog post..Being Grateful Makes You Full of Greatness…
Ditto the sleep!
and don’t go fooling yourself that it stops at five either!
where’s the advent colandar?
I liked the quotes a lot – I wonder if there is something like “Don’t kill them, they are just Teens” – what do you think? ;o)
Penelopes last blog post..In at the deep end.
ehm..looking at the ‘shaven’ pics..did I miss something??
I always knew Hitler was a Brit ;)
Arjans last blog post..Genestealer
(un)relaxeddad – I think the advent of school has had a lot to do with it. She’s also at an age when she is trying to grasp some independence. I should be me, not her, who adapts to the new circumstances though.
babbo – I’ve never tried meditation, although I do enjoy a good sit in silence now and again.
Gail – Blimey, give me chance to take the bloody photo
Penelope – Sounds good to me. I think that one is actually backed up by the British legal system too.
Arjan – You missed something by about eighteen months. It’s an old photo but it amuses me and I thought it would look good in that gap until I found something better to stick in it.
I had a beard for a while too and took some pics while shaving it off..but I had the greatest hangover ever..so I will keep the world safe and won’t publish them ;)
Arjans last blog post..Genestealer
Welcome back Dan, I’ve missed you.
And being a’good’ dad, give me a break, you’re ‘nowt’ short of a fantastic father, as they say in Huddersfield.
Keep up the good work in both aspects of your being.
SingleParentDads last blog post..Watch Your Step, And Theirs
If you figure out how to get more sleep, would you let me know?
Ed (zoesdad)s last blog post..It’s Not a Story
I was going to be all serious etc here but everyone has just joked so I’d feel like a tit.
But well done sir.
Xbox4NappyRashs last blog post..Making that list, checking it twice
I think the get more sleep advice applies to everyone for everything. If only it were that easy. Now, where’s that bottle of Jack Daniels to knock me out with?
Kevin Spencers last blog post..Stay Classy Walmart Shoppers
Arjan – Now you’ve got me intrigued
SingleParentDad – Thanks, but it’s worth pointing out that I put my “best face on” for the blog.
Ed -I think it has something to do with sacrificing any “me time”
Xbox – Nothing wrong with a little bit of seriousness.
Kevin – I use a big mallet personally.
Dans last blog post..Advent Colander: Dec 2nd