The New Year is a time “New.” But New is not always so nice. New means change and change means challenge. New might not be fun for you.
New represents the unknown—from a child’s first day of school to a Dad bringing home his baby for the first time. The unknown stirs questions of who we are and how we feel: Will I be liked? Will I know what I am doing? Will I be any good?
These questions are just a few when it comes to the New. There are girls who do not want to go bowling on a date because they don’t want to be laughed at. There are boys who do not want to go skiing for fear of falling down. The New does not always seem so good for you.
There is a temptation to fight the fear of the New with a Herculean bravado. There is a saying that “When the going gets tough the tough get going.” This is not always true. Throwing children off the high dive is not the best way to overcome a fear of heights.
New can be good for you. But new isn’t easy—not for me, not for you, and not for our children. So here are some encouragements for Good Dads helping their children find the good in the New:
The New is not always easy—not for me or for you. I don’t always feel I am a Good Dad or good at other things. It doesn’t help me when people say, “You shouldn’t feel that way.” It does help when people say, “What can I do to help?” and “I am proud of you.”
You are a Good Dad and what you do isn’t easy. Every day is new for you. I am proud of you.