With the birth of a tagline, my resolve surfaced.  Any guy with a penis and a decent sperm count can be a father, but it takes a real man to be dad.  Let me take a moment to go into depth on this.  A guy gets a girl pregnant, they may choose to get married or not.  But as the pregnancy progresses, the mommy-to-be works, cleans, cooks, and does the millions of other daily tasks, meanwhile the father-to be goes on with his life, might check-in at an appointment or two, and boasts to his other male friends about his virility.  Then, one day the little one decides “it is time” and comes into this world.  Often, the mother is there alone while the father is out and about, or (even worse) there but distant.  Then it comes time to take the little one home and the mother takes some time off of work, taking care of the child while the father goes back to his life.  In some cases, that is when the check writing begins (child support or otherwise) and the distance starts.  What does it take to be a dad?  Pushing yourself DAILY to do what you can for your wife and child.  Making it to all that you can.  BEING THERE.  As a dad, you realize that you are not just the bank account, you are a parent, a husband and a mentor.  You are the only shield that exists to protect your wife and child from the cruel world that exists outside.  Here is how the story goes for a dad.  Guy gets a girl pregnant, if they are not married, then the get married.  The Mom-to-be stops going to work and focuses on the health of her and the child.  Meanwhile, the Dad-to-be steps his game up.  He starts cooking, cleaning (after all, so many of those cleaning agents can be detrimental to the child’s health), pampering the mom-to-be, tries to make it to EVERY appointment, and basically bends over backwards.  When the day comes for their little one to come into this world, he is there, he is focused and he takes those final few steps to become a man. As their child is born he shuffles the coil of boyhood and firmly takes his position as “Daddy”.

Simply put, a boy can be a father, but only a Man can be a dad.  A dad should not have any issues in showing fear, pain, joy or compassion.  It should be able to be perceived that his family comes first, above and beyond himself. Furthermore, what is the point in having your wife work, when 80% of the income she earns would go to daycare?  I am not saying that a women’s place is at home… but what I am saying is that if you are in the place to make some sacrifices such that your wife can stay home and take care of your child, then sack up and do it.  Sure, I would love to have lots of things, but what I do have means more to me than any item.  I have a wife that is doing an awesome job taking care of our daughter, and a daughter that makes life awesome.  I know that there are cases (thanks to this awesome economy that we have in the United States) that this cannot be done.  I am not here to bash the guys that cannot make this happen.  I am also not here to say that the dad cannot be at home… that works too! 

I AM A DAD, I am scared out of my mind, and if you do not like my point of view… please feel free to challenge it though civil discourse, or… just stop reading.