I have been a father for 1 year and one week. This will be my second father’s day, but the first one I’ll really remember because I was so sleep-deprived last year that I really have very little recollection of that day. As I approach this Father’s Day, I’ve been reflecting on the past year and how I have done in helping raise my children.

First, I would not be half the father I am today were it not for my wife. She is a constant rock in the storm of parenthood. She tackles problems head on. She never settles for what is easy over what is best. She is pragmatic in her approach and unwavering in her will to do what’s best for our kids. I need to be more like her.

Growing up, I didn’t have the benefit of seeing what a good parenting partnership should be. Since my father died when I was young, my mother was all I knew. There was no give and take between parents. There wasn’t a balance of two individual’s strengths and weaknesses balancing each other in an attempt to raise a child. I only saw one perspective.

The hardest part for me being a father is trying to balance my need to father a certain way with my wife’s need to mother a certain way. This past year has taught me how important it is to communicate with my spouse. We need to be on the same page now more than ever. It has been the greatest learning experience of my life.

What a gift I can give to my children. I can be the role model that I never had. I can show them what being in a solid relationship that revolves around mutual respect and communication should be like. I can admit mistakes and move to correct them. I can be a father.

I love my kids. I love my wife. Tomorrow on Father’s Day, I will be thinking of how I can be an even better father. How I can be an even better husband. How I can give my children the gift of how to be equal teammates in a relationship and respect and love those around us always. Tomorrow I will be celebrating being a father – something that I love so much – but I will also be reminding myself what a great father is and how I can be the best father I can be.

This was a part of the “bloggect” by Kara at Cape Buffalo.