In many families, moms and dads balance one another, each offering different guidance to their kids. Moms are often more protective while dads often encourage kids to push the limits.
President of the Love and Logic Institute Dr. Charles Fay feels that every dad can be a hero by teaching kids to learn from mistakes.
There are many lessons kids can learn from dads. Here are 10 life lessons that my dad tried to teach all of his kids. Some of us learned the lessons better than others.
Always be prepared. Many of the emergency situations people face in life are the direct result of failure to plan ahead.
Have a plan B. This lesson was taught by my dad when teaching kids to drive. With a plan B, you always know what to do when your path in life is suddenly blocked.
Pay attention. Whether the person talking is a parent, teacher, coworker, boss, spouse or child, you show your respect by paying attention. You'll probably learn a lot too.
Trust your instincts. If something seems too good to be true, it usually is. This is as true with people and situations as with things.
Learn from your mistakes. Kids often learn best from making mistakes and suffering the consequences of their actions.
Knowledge is power. My dad's answer to many questions was, "Look it up." He knew that we would learn more and retain the knowledge by looking it up ourselves.
Set goals and priorities. There's nothing wrong with having dreams. But when you have a plan with clear goals and you know what's important, your dreams are more likely to become reality
Live within your means. We have become a plastic society, racking up way too much debt as families and as a nation. Living within your means now allows you to save for the future.
Give it a try. My dad pushed us outside of our comfort zones. Jumping off the high dive, riding a bike without help and trying new foods all helped us be willing to give new things a try.
Always give 100 percent in all that you do. My dad was a career Army officer who served in three wars. Giving 100 percent in war may mean the difference between life and death.
In life, giving 100 percent may mean the difference between getting a promotion or losing your job. When you give 100 percent, you're more likely to maintain strong relationships with all of those who matter to you.
Most important of all, when you give 100 percent in all that you do, you can be proud of yourself. A strong sense of self-worth will be yours for life.
Thanks to my dad for the life lessons he taught. I wasn't always a willing student and wasn't always a good student, but I was always listening and learning.
What life lessons will you teach your kids? They are always listening and learning to what you teach, both in actions and in words.
