Anyone can be a father but it takes a great deal of effort to be a great father. If you have a great father, your life shapes up in a different way. He stands by you in hard times and acts as the pillar of might, support and restraint.
However, most feel that parenting is more about mothers and a father’s role is often limited to being the bread earner. His efforts in nurturing the child often go thankless.
If you have never thanked your father enough for being there in your life, it’s time to make up for all those years. On Father's Day, thank your dad for being with you and supporting you all through these times. And while you shower him with admiration, here are some telltale signs that declare you really have a great father by your side.
1. He instilled discipline without being a controller
This is one trait of a great father that sets him aside. A father, who understands his roles and responsibilities towards his child, will always make efforts to show his child the right path without being too much of a controller. He adopts positive parenting and disciplines the child with more of love and affection rather than physical punishment. If your father made sure he used love to correct you rather than lifting his hand on you when you made a mistake, you truly are blessed with a wonderful dad. Cherish the bond!
2. He let you make mistakes and learn from it
A great father would encourage his kids to make mistakes and learn from them. The little risks in life often teach a lot, and if you had a father who preached this then you have grown up well. Mistakes act as guide posts and help us distinguish the right form the wrong. However protective your father might be of you and however hard it must have been for him to see you fall down, he held himself back so you could learn to get up on your own. That speaks of a great father!
3. He holds a broader perspective
Dads seem to have seen the world through a clearer and a bigger lens! Somehow dads are more accommodating and more adjusting to the changing times. This separates a great father from a good one. Changing your age old perception with changing times is the only way to grow in life. If he allowed you to live as per the modern day and society but made sure that you embraced the goodness of your culture and traditions then your father has an open minded approach to life and is simply awesome.
4. He took interest in your hobbies
A good father knows every individual is different and so are his hobbies and areas of interests. He appreciates your choices and always gets involved in the activities you take up as your hobby. If he has supported you through your changing and wavering interests as kids and taken out time from his busy schedule to help you pursue your hobby you have a great dad.
5. He taught you to see the goodness in others
He always taught you to keep a positive outlook in life. The look at the glass half full is your father’s mantra for life! This is a valuable lesson and one that is of utmost importance. Your father understands the importance of positivity in life and makes all the efforts to instill the same faith in you.
6. He spent quality time with you
No matter how busy he may have been, he would always take out time for you. He engaged in fun activities with you, spent time making toy houses with you, watched your favorite movie or cartoon show with you. Whatever he did for you when you were a kid, he gave his full attention.
7. He let you explore & experiment
He wanted you to see the world around and he always encouraged you to face its challenges. If you were scared of speaking in public or riding a cycle, he made consistent efforts to help you overcome your fear. He pushed you to overcome your limitation and attain your true potential. A great dad knows what separates success from failure is to not be afraid of failure.
8. He practiced what he taught
It’s not that he only advised you to behave or do things in a certain manner. He brought those advises in his practice as well. If he told you to wake up early and exercise, he too would do the same. If you grew up with a father who always kept his word, he set an amazing example for you.
9. He accepted your weaknesses
A good father understands that nothing in the world is perfect and everyone has some weaknesses. He accepted your flaws and supported you through them. All the while, making efforts to help you defeat your weakness and turning it into your biggest strengths.
10. He loves you unconditionally
He simply loves you unconditionally. Even if he fails to express his love through words very often, he shows it through his gestures. He does everything that is best for your life and never expects anything in return. His triumph is in seeing you flourish and prosper!
All of these are the signs of a father who gives his heart and soul to parenting his child in the best possible manner. If your father reflects these signs, you surely have the greatest dad in the world.