You and I both know about THE Ten Commandments. If we follow those, we will be in good shape, but did you know there are Ten Commandments of being a good father? Allow me to share them with you just in time for Father's Day. They come courtesy of Jeff Pearlman, who is a sportswriter and blogger:
1. No golf on weekends: Seriously, it's ludicrous. Your spouse is always home with the kids, and you think it's OK to take five hours on a weekend day to pursue your pastime?
2. Wake up: Literally, wake up with your kids. At least once a week - you get a little extra rest, and it is somewhat fun!
3. Change diapers: If you have little kids and don't know how to change diapers (or, even worse, refuse to change diapers), you're pathetic.
4. Play with dolls and paint your toenails: How many fathers do I know who refuse to get girlish with their girls? Put aside the machismo, and break out Barbie.
5. Do things you don't want to do: It's easy to take the kids to the driving range — because you want to be there. Now try spending the day having a tea party or crawling through one of those wormholes at the nearby kiddie gym. Fun? Often, no. But this isn't about you.
6. Get the wife to bug off: I recently met a mother who told me her husband hadn't been alone with their 9-year-old for more than two hours … ever. Let your wife do her own thing: relax, take a run, whatever. Entertain your children solo.
7. Surprise! On a random day without meaning or purpose, show up early at your kid's school or camp and say, "Get in the car!" and take them somewhere special. Just the two of you, alone. A movie. A park. A hike. The memory lasts — I promise.
8. Dishes Don't Clean Themselves (Nor Do Toys): It's incredible how this one works. You pick up a dish, run it under hot water with some soap, rub it down with a towel and place it back on the shelf. Then repeat.
9. Wake up your kid: Not often. But if you want to score big points and create a killer memory moment, walk into Junior's room at midnight, wake them up, and go outside for ten minutes to watch the stars.
10. Tell your kids you love them: They never see you and would probably like to know.
This is the most recent picture of my dad and me, and yes, he kept every one.
Happy Father's Day.
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