Ready to become a dad?

Here are 12 things to ask yourself before your baby arrives.

Now that you're about to become a dad, remember to take 3 Looks: Look in, Look out, and Look up.

Look in to assess who you ware and to ask yourself if you're ready for the lifelong commitment of being a dad.

Look out to see how family and culture will impact your role as a dad.

Look up to assess your values and morals to ensure that you can set the proper moral "compass" for your child.

Ask yourself the following 12 questions before you become a dad.

1. Are you ready to commit for life to the mother of your child
   Perhaps the most vital factor that will affect the relationship you will have with your child is the quality of the relationship that you have with your child's mother. Whether you are married to her or not, you will be linked to her for life because you will have a child together. But think hard about marrying her. Children with married parents are healthier, on average, than are children without married parents. your child will do best when your and the mother's goals are aligned. A good marriage will tend to align your and the mother's goals for the good of your child. Besides, marriage is good for men. Married men, on average, are healthier, have better and more sex, and live longer, fuller, and happier lives than unmarried men.
2. Do you know how important it is to be involved in your child's life?
   Children who live without their dads are, on average, at least two to three times more likely to be poor, to use drugs, and to have trouble in school and with their behavior and health than are children who live with both parents. They're also more likely to be abused and to go to prison. Learn about the unique role that a dad plays in his children's lives - a role that can't be replaced!
3. Do you have the drive and desire to be a good dad?
   The most vital factors in being a good dad are the drive and desire to be a good dad. It's best not to become a dad unless you want to become one with all your heart. Children need dads with the drive and desire to be a good dad.
4. Do you know how to be an involved dad?
   Your child will need you to be involved physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In other words, they will need you to "provide, nurture, and guide." Children need all three to thrive.
5. Are you prepared to provide?
   A role played by good dads is to provide for their children. Make sure that you're ready for the financial responsibility of raising a child. you should assess things like your job security, your housing, and the financial stability of your life before your baby arrives.
6. Are you prepared to nurture?
   Your will need to give your child lots of hugs and kisses. you will need to tell your child often that you love them. Studies show that "father love" is just as vital as "mother love" for children.
7. Are you prepared to guide?
   A main role of a dad is to instill proper values in his children. If you give your child bad values, you will only give them what they need to fail. But if you give your child proper values, you will give them what they need to succeed Make sure that you have solid character and the proper values. Good dads don't just tell their children how to live; they show them how to live.
8. What's your own "fathering history?"
   Men who had good relationships with their own dads tend to model the way their dads raised them. Men who have had poor or no relationships with their own dads try to do what their dads did not do for them - they "rework" the poor models they had. It's vital that you ask how your relationship with your dad will affect the kind of dad you will be.
9. Do you know that parenting is a team sport?
   You will have a teammate in parenting - the mother of your child. Make sure that you both have similar ideas about parenting. How alike are your approaches to raising a child? How will you discipline your child? Do you have the same goals for your child's education, sports, faith, etc.? you might need to look back at the way you and she were raised to see if any parenting conflicts might arise. Work out any issues before your baby arrives.
10. Do you know that children spell love "T-I-M-E?"
    Children spell love "T-I-M-E." Your child will need your presence, attention, and time. Commit the time that you will need to the job of being a good dad. Your child will measure the quality of your relationship with them by the quantity of time (how much time) that you spend with them. Figure out how you will balance work and family time so that you can spend enough time with your child.
11. Are you ready to be a role model?
    After you have a child, you must make all of your decisions with their well-being in mind. How you live your life will affect your child. Children model how their dads care for themselves. Are you ready to lead a healthy lifestyle so that you can be very involved in your child's life? Fatherhood is a lifelong commitment, so you have good reason to live a long and healthy life. Exercise and a change in diet might be in order for you. You must be alive to be a good dad!
12. Are you ready for the in-laws and the rest of "the family?"
    Don't ignore the impact that your and the mother's parents and relatives will have on your role as a dad. Both families will want to invest time and assets in your child. You will have to manage the relationships they have with your child. That might be a challenge, but these relationships will be vital to your child's well-being.

Tips and Tools for Dad of Pre-School & School-Age Children

1. Don't let Mom do All the Work
   Some dads leave everything to do with school up to mom. When you are not involved, it gives your child only one partner to help. When you are involved, it takes the pressure off mom and shows her and your child that you respect mom and value school.
2. "Show and Tell" How Important School IS
   Your child needs to hear that school is important to success in life. Talk with your child as often as you can about the school day. Model how important school is by taking a course on something you want to learn. This will show that learning can be done at any age.
3. Help with School Worl
   Children today have more schoolwork (and homework) than you might have had as a child. This puts a lot of pressure on children. Helping with schoolwork can help your child learn more. Your child might be in a class of 20 to 30 students. If your child has problems with a certain subject, they might not get the one-on-one help they need. You and mom can give the one-on-one help the school might not be able to give.
4. Make School Fun
   Your child should have fun learning no matter how old they are. Play games that teach basic skills to your child, like math, reading, and writing. Use the fun times you spend with your child as a chance to learn. If you watch a basketball game with your child, for example, ask your child by how many points the winning team is ahead.
5. Spend a Day or Two in Class
   Ask your child's teacher if you can spend parts of one or two days in the classroom. this will give you an idea not only of the subjects your child learns, but how the teacher teaches them because it might be different than the way you learned those subjects. You don't want to confuse your child by being taught one way at school and another way at home.
6. Meet with the Teacher
   Set a time to meet with your child's teacher before you spend a day or two in class. This will help you get to know the teacher and ask questions you might have about how the teacher will teach and discipline your child. It's also good to meet with the principal to see how the school is run.
7. Go to School and Class Events
   Go to parent-teacher and student-led meetings, to class parties, to school plays, and to events that involve the entire school. When dads do these things, their children get better grades and like school more.
8. Join a Group That Helps Parents to Become Involved
   Become a member of a group, like the PTA or PTO, which helps parents to get involved in your child's school. Start a "Dad's Club" as part of the group. The club can create projects and events that help dads get involved in the school.
9. Get to Know Other Children and Parents
   Knowing the children in the class, and their parents, will help you talk with your child about the good and not so good things that happen at school. This will help if you need to talk with the teacher about problems between your child and other children. And who knows...getting to know the other parents might lead to new friendships.
10. Ask Your Boss for Time Off
    Use benefits, like flextime, that will allow you to get involved. Ask the teacher or school for a calendar or events so that you can ask for time off long before events take place. This will help your boss plan for your absence.

• 17 percent of children (12.5 million) are obese.
• Almost 3 times as many children are obese today as in 1980.
• these children are at high risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, some cancers, and other health problems.

The good news is that you can help your child to avoid being one of these numbers. Children are more likely to have a healthy weight and lifestyle if their dad has a healthy weight and lifestyle. How often you exercise and how healthy your diet is will affect your child's level of exercise and their diet.
Use these 10 tips to create a healthy path for your child that will last a lifetime

1. Exercise
   Enough said. Modeling exercise is perhaps the best thing you can do to create an active home. Try to involve your child when you exercise, such as having them jog with you. Not only will this show them the joy of exercise, but it will also bring you closer to your child.
2. Enroll Your Child in a sport
   Get your child in into a sports program they will enjoy. Allow your child to try several sports to find one they really enjoy. Don't push your child into sports they don't enjoy and remember that some sports require a lot of time from your child and family. Be aware of the commitment before you sign up.
3. Buy Healthy Foods
   Buy foods made from whole products, such as whole-wheat bread and brown rice, instead of highly refined foods, such as white bread and white rice. Limit foods with preservatives, chemicals, and those that are high in saturated fat and sugar. Buy lots of fruits and vegetables of many colors. Limit how often your family eats "fast foods."
4. Model a Healthy Diet
   Eat healthy foods. If you ask your children to eat broccoli, eat it, too. Not every family member will like the same foods, but overall, the family should follow the same healthy diet. If your diet needs a tune up, start eating healthy before asking your children to do the same.
5. Eat Regular Meals Together
   Pick at least one meal in the day that your family shares together. Many families choose dinner because it's a great time to get caught up on what's happening in the daily lives of dad, mom, and the children. Don't watch TV during mealtime. Avoid having your child do their homework during mealtime.
6. 6 Watch Portion Size
   When you eat at home, don't serve large amounts of food. When eating out, choose restaurant that serve smaller amounts. Children who stuff themselves don't learn that they should stop eating when full. Don't force your child to clean their plate. Your child knows when they're full. Watching portion size helps your child maintain a healthy weight.
7. Watch your Child Drink
   Sodas and fruit juice are the drink of choice for too many children. Once study of obese teens found that 50 percent of their calories came from sodas. Diet sodas don't pass the test. Fruit juices are okay in small amounts. Avoid sport drinks unless your child needs to recharge after a lot of physical activity. tell your child to drink lost of water and just enough milk for strong bones.
8. Tame the TV and Video Games
   Limit the amount of TV watching and video games. Have your child do at least 2-3 times as much physical activity per day than they watch TV or play video games. Model this by noting the amount of TV you watch and time you play video games.
9. Make Time for Family to be Active Together
   At least once a week, make time for the members of your family to be active together. Do something everyone enjoys. try walking, riding bikes, bowling, or building a garden.
10. Plan special, Active Family Trips
    Active families often take active trips. Water and snow skiing, hiking, biking, and camping make great, active family trips. But don't forget to balance active things with "down time" to relax and just "hang out"

1. Respect Your Children's Mother
   One of the best things a father can do for his children is to respect their mother. If you are married, keep your marriage strong. If you are not married, it is still important to respect and support the mother of your children. A father and mother who respect each other provide a secure environment for their children. When children see their parents respecting each other, they are more likely to feel that they are also accepted and respected.
2. Spend Time with Your Children
   How a dad spends his time tells his children what is important to him. if you always seem too busy, they will feel neglected no matter what you say or how much money you spend on them. Treasuring children often means sacrificing other things, but it is essential! Children grow up quickly - missed opportunities are lost forever!
3. Earn the Right to be Heard
   Sometimes a father only speaks to his children when they have done something wrong. Start talking to your children when they have done something wrong. Start talking to your children about difficult subjects when they are young so that these conversations will be easier when they are older. Take the time to listen to their ideas and problems
4. Discipline with Love
   All children need guidance and discipline, not as punishment but to set reasonable limits. remind your children that actions have consequences and provide meaningful rewards for desirable behavior. Fathers who discipline in a calm and fair manner show love for their children.
5. Be a Role Model
   Fathers are role models, whether or not they realize it. A girl with a loving father grows up knowing she deserves to be treated with respect, and she knows what to look for in a husband. Fathers can teach sons what is important by demonstrating honesty, humility, and responsibility.
6. Be a teacher
   Too many fathers think teaching is something others do. but a father who teaches his children about right and wrong, and encourages them to do their best, will see his children make good choices. Involved fathers use everyday examples to help their children learn basic lessons of life.
7. Read to Your Children
   Dads have to make a special effort to read to their children in a world where television and video games dominate. Promote reading by reading to your children when they are young. Encourage them to read on their own as they grow. Instill a love of reading in your children and you will help them have a lifetime of personal and career growth.
8. Show Affection
   Children need to know they are wanted, accepted and loved by their family. Parents, especially fathers, need to feel comfortable and be willing to hug their children. Showing affection every day is a great way to let your children know that you love them.
9. Balance Work and Family
   Working dads sometimes think it's hard to spend time with family and succeed at work, but it can be done. The fact tis the more success you have balancing work and family, the better father and worker you'll be. Balance lowers the stress you have in both roles. you don't have to give up time with your family to succeed at work.
10. Realize that a Father's job is Never Done
    Even after your child has left home, if you're done your job well, she will still look to you for wisdom and advice. Fathers still play an essential part in the lives of their adult children as they build their own families. Dads create a legacy for future generations.

Congratulations! You've just taken one of the most important steps toward becoming a good father - wanting to become one.

Today, more and more dads like you are experiencing the satisfaction and reward of taking a more active role in the life of your child. Read and discover how these 10 simple ideas can help (or remind) you to start today on a new path—one that will impact your relationships…and your child’s future.

1. Respect Your Children’s Mother

One of the best things you, as a dad, can do for your children is to respect their mother. If you are married, maybe this goes without saying, but I’ll say it just in case; keep your marriage strong and healthy. Take time, as least weekly, to work on this relationship and keep it strong. If you’re not married, it’s still important to respect and support the mother of your children. A father and mother who respect each other, and let their children know it, provide a secure environment for the children. When children see their parents respecting each other, they are more likely to feel they are also accepted and respected.

2. Spend Time With Your Children

This is more complicated than it sounds, I know. But, how a dad spends his time tells his children what’s important to him. You’ve no doubt heard us say, Children spell “love”: T-I-M-E. If you always seem too busy for your children, they will feel neglected no matter what you say. Treasuring children often means sacrificing other things, but it is essential to spend time with your children. Kids grow up so quickly. Missed opportunities are lost forever.

3. Listen First, Talk Second

All too often the only time a father speaks to his children is when they are getting in trouble. That’s why many children may cringe when their mother says, “Your father wants to talk with you.” Take time and listen to your children’s ideas and problems. Listening helps them feel respected and understood. Begin listening and talking with your kids when they are young so that difficult subjects will be easier to handle as they get older.

4. Discipline With Love

All children need guidance and discipline, not as punishment, but to set reasonable limits. Remind your children of the consequences of their actions and provide meaningful rewards for desirable behavior. Fathers who discipline in a calm and fair manner show love to their children.

5. Be A Role Model

Fathers are role models to their kids, whether they realize it or not. A girl who spends time with a loving father grows up knowing she deserves to be treated with respect by boys, and what to look for in a husband. Fathers can teach sons what is important in life by demonstrating honesty, humility, and responsibility.

6. Be A Teacher

Too often we think teaching is something others do at a school building. But a father who teaches his children about right and wrong, and encourages them to do their best, will see his children make good choices. Involved fathers use everyday examples to help their children learn the basic lessons of life. Consider the vital knowledge you, and you only, possess with regard to music and classic movies at this point!

7. Eat Together As A Family

Sharing a meal together (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) can be an important part of healthy family life. In addition to providing some structure on a busy day, it gives kids the chance to talk about what they are doing and want to do. It is also a good time for fathers to listen. Most importantly, it is a time for families to be together each day.

8. Read To Your Children

In a world where television and technology dominates the lives of children, it is important that fathers make the effort to read to their children. Children learn best by doing and reading, as well as seeing and hearing. Read to your children when they are very young. When they are older, encourage them to read on their own. Instilling your children with a love for reading is one of the best ways to ensure they will have a lifetime of growth.

9. Show Affection

Children need the security that comes from knowing they are wanted, accepted, and loved by their family. Dad, get comfortable hugging your children. Showing affection every day is the best way to let your children know that you love them.

10. Realize A Father's Job Is Never Done

Even after children are grown and ready to leave home, they will still look to their fathers for wisdom and advice. Whether it's continued schooling, a new job or a wedding, fathers continue to play an essential part in the lives of their children as they grow and, perhaps, marry and build their own families.

Which one of these 10 ways do you find the most difficult? Why?