The Important Differences Between Being A Dad And Being A Father

Jun 15, 2018

When a holiday like Father’s Day rolls around, many of us pause to think about the relationship we have with our own father. As we get older and reminisce, especially now that many of us have become parents ourselves, we have a completely different perspective on what being a dad means as opposed to being a father. 

It may seem like simple semantics, but defining each one in its own way gives a new meaning to fatherhood, which we've outlined here:

Thinking like a father instead of like a buddy to your kids can mean putting aside the “cool dad” exterior and really understanding that what you say and how you say it can make all the difference. When your child asks you about something, it usually means they are curious and contemplating trying it themselves. Their immediate thought is that you have already done it, so they can probably get advice from someone who has experienced it.

Fathers won’t play up a scenario to sound better or worse than it is, they just tell it as it happened. They avoid being preachy and simply state the facts while trusting you to make the right decision.

This is the father who goes to the daddy-daughter dances or lets his toddler dress him up like a doll for a tea party and doesn't feel “less macho.” He also is the dad that isn’t too busy to read you a bedtime story, even if you ask him to read the same book days or weeks in a row and he never complains. He'll act out the characters even if everyone in the house can hear him doing his best impression of a grandma or gingerbread man.

This creates memories of a father who put his own identity as the disciplinarian aside and put your happiness first. 

Just because he is a man, it doesn’t mean that a father can’t show his feelings when dealing with you and everyone else in the family. A father may have to set rules, but a dad can also show that those rules are established with respect for you in mind; he doesn't verbally abuse you to enforce them.

A dad also knows how to instill character in their children without resorting to rage or physical punishment. A true role model dad will impart what rules he sees fit and enforce them by verbalizing why they are important and explaining the consequences of not following them. For a father, this can be difficult in the heat of an emotional moment, but a dad will take a moment, collect himself, and then show you what an appropriate response is. 

Any father has the legal responsibility to keep their child safe from harm, but a dad goes above and beyond this and ensures the safety of his children at all costs. This means knowing that no matter what, your dad would never leave you with someone or somewhere that seemed dangerous, including family. A dad thinks of their child first and everyone else second, even if it is a good family friend, neighbor, or relative that a child is concerned about. A dad will listen, believe, and take action if necessary. 

Being a father is a big responsibility and one that should never be taken lightly. But being a dad is a responsibility toward a child that is also filled with love, respect, and protection that their kid can count on for their entire life. If you agree with this article, show it to the wonderful fathers you know!