DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DO?!?!?!?

FATHERS, DO NOT EXASPERATE YOUR CHILDREN. INSTEAD, BRING THEM UP IN THE TRAINING AND INSTRUCTION OF THE LORD
- EPHESIANS 6:4

Being a good father does NOT come naturally. We all think that we'll naturally be a good parent. The truth is that the only thing that comes naturally to us as a species is selfishness, self-centeredness, and self-absorption. To return to a previous point, when we marry, our life is no longer our own. When we have children, our life is really no longer our own. Our children will learn how to be adults based on our example. How do we treat our wives? How do we treat our neighbors? How do we treat strangers? How do we treat our children? How do we treat their friends?

Recommendations:

You Have What It Takes - What Every Father Needs to Know, John Eldredge
...incredible insight into our children's most fundamental questions:
   "Do I have what it takes?" for boys and "Am I lovely?" for girls
 
To Train Up a Child, Michael Pearl
...an extremely practical guide to raising your children to be well-adjusted, confident, self-controlled adults
 
Jumping Ship, Michael Pearl
...a convicting book for the father who takes his role as model seriously... or doesn't...
 
Shepherding a Child's Heart, Tedd Tripp
...a focus on training the child's heart rather than simply modifying his behavior