Like it or not, our sons and daughters learn much of their behavior from what we do, not what we say.

This article on iVillage about Victoria’s Secret model Brooklyn Decker discusses how her father helped her reign in her body image issues.

But, the most poignant body image lesson was delivered when I was 17 and in the midst of an eating disorder. I had shed about 25 pounds in my first two months away at college and all hell broke loose during Thanksgiving break, when I returned home. After a few moments of silence, my father began yelling, ?Where did my daughter go?? He whipped out his wallet and pulled out an older photo of me. “Look at how beautiful you are, Leslie! Where did the light in your eyes go?,” he wept. His breakdown was the turning point in my decision to seek help.

Read the full article here.

Ease up, dude.

A FATHER obsessed with his children’s education has been banned from parenting decisions because he’s too iron-fisted.

The father of three pushed his two daughters to complete homework above their academic level. He tutored them in the hope of winning private school scholarships.

The girls, 13 and 11, had to write reports on their daily movements, and their mother, and read them to him over the phone each evening.

Read the full article here.

This is an interesting he said/she said on the roles of stay-at-home fathers. I disagree with the dad and agree with the mom. Though I built my business around it, my aim has always been to stay home with my children as much as possible. Though I love that Cindy and I can do the heavy lifting together, if our fortunes found her working and me at home, I would see nothing wrong with that whatsoever.

Do I think it would make me any less of a man? No, quite the opposite:

Agree with her:

In fact, I think stay-at-home dads are kind of sexy.

There is something adorable about dedicated fathers and the way they interact with their children.

However, I also understand that it will probably take a while to overcome the whole old-fashioned “men work, women become housewives” concept, since it has been around for so long.

But please! We are living in the 21st century.

Disagree with him:

I’d say that most women in this country are not yet emancipated, and I think it’s a good thing for us men. It’s still a common perception among women in this country that men should earn more money than they do.

Read the full back and forth here.

You can always be a better dad.

Always.

I try every day, but I could do better. A few more minute, a little more present; children don’t need you every second, but the minutes you are around should really count.

Plenty of people make New Year’s resolutions that fade as quickly as the winter frost. Being a better dad is a resolution that deserves to be made – and kept.

Ratchet up your dad skills

Your role in your teen’s life is important to his or her successful development. Melanie Mallers, a professor of psychology at California State University, Fullerton, has shown that fathers play a long-lasting role in the emotional lives of their children. Recent findings she presented at the summer meeting of the American Psychological Association showed that men who experienced a good relationship with their fathers were particularly adept at coping with the daily stresses of life.

No matter how good a dad we are, we can always be better. This new year, decide to improve your dad skills.

Read the full article here.

I love this story.

One of the reasons I do what I do is so one day I can do it for all those I love.

I believe that once I refine my formula for making money online, it’s something I can do for all my friends and family. This article on ProBlogger is about exactly that; a blogger helping her father to build his own successful niche site online.

And together we are having so much fun. Dad now walks around quoting Crush It, and is a big hit on Facebook. Sure, he doesn’t know how to use WordPress and I can’t get him to consider tweeting yet. But he writes great stories and understands that online connections are just the same as those we make in real life.

So next time you are at a family dinner don’t hide in front of the TV or spend the whole time tweeting on your iPhone. Sit and listen to your aunt as she describes her new patchwork quilt or ask your grandfather about his model train collection. You might just find an untapped online business gold mine!

Read the full article here.

I can relate to this dad and first-time author, Scott McIntyre, who decided to write his own children’s book after being disappointed by the quality of the books he was reading to his children.

Every little boy dreams of being a superhero, and Scott made sure his son’s dream came true.

But he picked up his pen after being disappointed by the children’s books he had to read to Jake.
Most of them were filled with morals and messages about good behaviour – and he wanted something more fun. The 32-year-old found his own ideas kept on coming for something better and every idea he had featured his son.

‘People take inspiration from what’s around them,’ the dad-of-two from Eaglesham, Glasgow, said.
‘Jake is a magical little boy, he’s the greatest little boy in the world and before long it became obvious – he was the fastest kid in town and his sidekick, Dixie Thunderpaws, was the meanest cat around.

Read the full article here.

I loved this story, written by a patrol officer. Couldn’t agree with the sentiment more.

Dad refused to admit his indiscretion, arguing til the end that the officer did not see what he saw. He did, however, sign the ticket and continue on his way.

Fast forward, now, to early January 2011. Officer Smith and Dad of the Year appear in traffic court for the previously issued citation.

It’s a short read, but a terrific example of what NOT to do when raising your children. You can tell them not to lie all day long, but if they see untrue words leaving your lips with frequency, you are likely raising little liars.

Read the full article here.

Duh.

It doesn’t matter if you’re trying to raise a lady or a gentleman, time spent with dad is essential to your child’s overall development.

For your little girl, you set the bar each day for what she will one day expect from the man in her life. The way he will treat her, the way he will speak to her, and the way he may treat their children.

For your little boy, you will set the bar for what it means to be a man. You are the biggest model he will ever have, and what you do each day will partly define him, one small degree at a time.

This article from The Vancouver Sun, Less Time With Dad Can Lead Kids to Bullying,” is a short, interesting read.

A study from Brunel University in London found that adolescents who witness bullying are as likely or more likely than victims to develop anxiety, depression and physical symptoms of stress, and that they’re more likely to use drugs or alcohol. The researchers concluded they were traumatized by repeated exposure to bullying behaviour and to their inability to help their peers.

Read the full article here.