28 Rules for Fathers of Sons

MANifesto

by @sammaule

As written by:

Thanks for posting:

24 Million Number of U.S. children in father-absent homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

That’s 1 out of

every 3

Number of U.S. children in father-absent homes

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

MANifesto

It’s time we stepped up. This is our

MANifesto 28 Rules for Fathers with Sons

** Disclaimer: Most apply to daughters also. **

He will learn to love like you love, & hate like you hate. So choose love for both

of you. Devote yourself to it. Love with your whole heart & express that love

each & every day. Then, someday down the road, you will see the way he loves

his own wife, & know that you played a part in that.

1) Love his Mother

Every child remembers the first time they drove on daddy’s lap. For

that one moment, he will believe that he is just. like. you.

2) Let him drive

3) Teach him to be picky

Especially when it comes to women and

burgers. Teach him to never settle.

4) Take him to

a ball game

There is something about sharing

a day of hot dogs, sunshine &

baseball with your father.

Boys have this preconceived notion that they have to be tough. When he is

young, he will express his love fully & innocently. As he grows, he will hide his

feelings & wipe off kisses. Teach him to be a man who rubs them in instead. It

takes courage for a man to show love: teach him to be courageous.

5) Love

with

bravery

6) Talk about sex

Sometimes, boys need to know that all men are created equal.

7) Teach him to be a man’s man

Show him how to be brave & tough around the guys. Then, remind

him on the ride home that it is okay to cry.

Communicate. Talk. Talk about

anything. Let him tell you about

girls, friends, school. Listen. Ask

questions. Share dreams, hopes,

concerns. He is not only your

son, you are not only his father.

Be his friend too.

8) Share

secrets

together

9) Teach him manners

Because sometimes you have to be his father, not just his friend. The world is a

happier place when made up of polite words and smiles.

10) Teach him when to stand-

up & when to walk away

He should know that he doesn’t have to throw punches to prove he is right. He may not always be right. Make sure he knows how to demand respect- he is

worthy of it. It does not mean he has to fight back with fists or words, because sometimes you say more with silence.

Make sure he knows which battles are worth fighting- like for family or his

favorite baseball team. Remind him that people can be mean & nasty because

of jealousy, or other personal reasons. Help him to understand when to shut his

mouth & walk-away. Teach him to be the bigger better person.

11) Teach him

to choose his

battles

…in tighty whiteys. Dance

alongside him in yours.

Teach him that there are

moments when it is okay to

be absolutely ridiculous.

12) Let him

dance

Introduce him to the classics & learn the words to the not-so-classics. Create a

rock band with wooden instruments, share your earphones, & blast Pink Floyd in

the car. Create a soundtrack to your lives together.

13) Share music

14) Let him win

Sometimes he needs

to know that big things

are possible.

15) Teach him about family

Let him know family is always worth fighting for. Family is always

worth standing up for. At the end of the day, he has you to fall

back on, & pray to God that you will have him.

16) Father him

Being a father—to him—is undoubtedly one of your greatest accomplishments. Share with him the joys of fatherhood, so one day he will want to be a father too.

Remind him over & over again with words & kisses that no one will ever love him like you love him.

17) Listen

to him now

If you don’t listen to the little things now, he

won’t share the big things later.

Even if they are old &

smelly. Let him slip his

little feet in & watch him as

he hopes like hell that

someday he can fill them.

He will fill them.

18) Let him try

on your shoes

19) Give him bear hugs

The kind that squeezes his insides & make him giggle. The kind of

hug only a daddy can give.

Because Mom can’t do

everything damn it.

20) Give him

baths

Let him pee outside- such

is the joy of being a man.

Mom cannot teach this

talent, so someone has to.

21) Teach him

how to pee

standing up

He will assume you do. If

you don’t know them,

pretend you do & look

them up later.

22) Know

the answers

Because little boys love seeing the strength of their father. Throw him up in the

air, so that he knows you will always be there to catch him on his way down.

23) Toss

him around

He will come to you with

questions that he won’t always

want to ask his mother, about girls

and about love. Ask her anyway,

she will know the answers.

24) Ask his

mother

Little girls are not the only ones who need hugs & kisses. Love is the color

yellow of emotions. It is both happy and gender neutral.

25) Love him like you would love

a daughter

26) Grow a big belly

Because every child should get the chance to rest their head on the

absolute softest pillow ever. Daddy’s belly is the best place to land.

American inventor Charles F. Kettering

once said, “every father should

remember that one day his son will

follow his example instead of his

advice.” Be a good one.

27) Don’t say, do

28) Be his hero

You are anyway. To him, you have the strength of Batman, the speed of

Spiderman & the brain of Ironman. Don’t disappointment. Prove to him that

Daddy’s are the biggest heroes of all. Only Daddy’s can save the day.

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Photo credits

@sammaule

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