Things Every Dad Learns From Their Child

1. Unconditional love

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A man doesn't know true unconditional love like he learns when he has a child. Only then does he fully understand the meaning of unconditional, a kind of love that can never be altered no matter what happens? It is a kind of cemented bond that he has never experienced until having a child of his own. After the birth of his child, he truly learns to love wholeheartedly.

2. How to be patient

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Patience isn't something that comes naturally to everybody. In fact, for a man, he only truly learns the art of patience when he has a child of his own. Before this, he may make a pretence of having patience but he hasn't yet learned how to truly be patient, the kind of patience which has no bounds and will continue no matter how much or to what extent it is tested.

3. How to express their emotions

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Emotions can come difficult for some men who find it very difficult to be open and expressive when it comes to how they feel. yet after having a child, a father learns better than they ever have before how to express their emotions. This is because it comes much more easily and naturally to them because the love for their child makes them want to be more emotionally open.

4. True responsibility

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Nobody, especially a man, doesn't fully know the true responsibility until he has a child. When he has a child he understands responsibility in the sense that their needs and their emotions come as their number one priority and they have to do everything for their child who is fully dependent on them. Having a child is a continuous responsibility that relies solely on you and your mother.

5. Being soft and gentle

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Some men struggle to tap into their soft and gentle side. But when it comes to raising a child a dad needs to be everything, strong, gentle, and soft. Showing this more vulnerable side to your child is how they feel able to be open and emotional with you and it helps to forge that meaningful kind of connection between son and child that can never be broken.

6. Selflessness

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Selflessness is something that a dad learns from his child because he realizes that his child matters more to him than anything, more than even himself. So he learns that when he has s child he would do anything for him no matter what it took. And this is something that he only learns from his child, nobody else can teach him this kind of selflessness.

7. Empathy

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Another thing that a dad learns from his child is empathy on a level that he had never experienced before. No matter how empathetic or in tune with other people's emotions he was, it will not be on the scale of how he empathized with his child. In this case, his child's pain will affect him three times over and he'll feel every emotion that his child feels.

8. To appreciate the little things

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When a dad has a child he learns from them to appreciate all of the little things in life. It becomes less about the huge milestones the big successes or major life moments and he learns to appreciate simple daily life with his child, for example, watching his child's first steps or just simply just experiencing simple every daily life with them.

9. Time management

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Men can find it hard to manage their time properly and may find themselves rushing or forgetting important things. But parenting changes things as, as soon as they have a child they learn to manage their time better in order to be able to not only fit in what they need to doubt but also fit around the schedule of their child and what they need and want to do.

10. How to prioritize

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Before becoming parents our priorities are completely different. We may prioritize ourselves first! But, a dad soon learns from their child that his priorities have to change and that he wants them to change as soon as he has a child because they instantly become the center of his world and suddenly they are his number one priority and the order of many other things change with it.

11. Forgiveness

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Forgiveness is another thing that a dad will learn from his child. A child over the years is going to test their parents one way or another. Children are still developing emotionally and they can act out or go through difficult phases as they grow. They naturally test the boundaries and as a dad, they teach them to be forgiving and to let things go.

12. How to actively listen

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Children want and need to be listened to, it's how they develop and grow as a person being listened to and understood and it's what makes them feel heard and secure. So they teach a dad how to actively listen with care and attention, not interrupt, and properly reflect on what their child has said so that they can respond in the answer which may have been something they never properly did before having a child.

13. A sense of wonder

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There's something so magical about a child's perspective. They see the world through a fresh pair of eyes with complete wonder and fascination and it's such a beautiful thing to be able to witness. It's only something that a child can teach her dad, the enthusiasm and wonder for the little things in life that we as adults come to overlook so readily as 'normal'.

14. Being fully present

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The only time in life, when you are truly and fully present, is when you're a child. You feel freedom like you never experience when you reach teenager-hood or adulthood. It's a time when you are only focused on the present and you can enjoy every moment and this is something that rubs off on a father, how to switch off and enjoy the moment which is an amazing skill!

15. Open-mindedness

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Children's minds are open and only as we enter adulthood do we unfortunately become less so. A child's mind is completely willing to listen to new ideas and perspectives without any kind of prejudice or judgment. And a father learns from his child to be more like this, bringing a child into the world makes them realize they have to be more open and willing.

16. Perspective

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Having perspective is hard sometimes when we are clouded by menial stresses but a dad learns from his child to have a new perspective. It really shows what is important in life, family and love rather than the materialistic things or stresses of life. A child's simplistic view of the world is completely refreshing and a good influence on an adult's mind.

17. How to give unwavering support

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As soon as a man becomes a father, he realizes that he wants to be there for his child always, no matter what. He will want to help guide his child through their life with complete, unwavering support. This comes from having a child, it is learned when a dad experiences the love he feels for his child and that they are the most important thing to them.

18. Flexibility

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Children don't adhere to a schedule. They feel as they feel and their emotions are based on that very moment. It is super hard to maintain any kind of real structure with a child and os a dad learns from his child how to be flexible. Before having a child, a man probably has a very rigid schedule of what he wants to do, what he needs to do, and when it has to be done by!

19. That they're not always right

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Sometimes men find it hard to admit that they are wrong, they want to know everything and be able to provide all of the answers. But when a dad has a child he learns from the that he doesn't. Not only because children ask the most random questions you could never have been prepared for, but also because nobody strictly knows exactly what they're doing when it comes to being a parent.

20. To encourage differences

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Children have to grow up to find their own place in the world and along the way, they will have phases where they explore new identities all to be able to establish their own sense of individuality. A dad learns that this is something to be nurtured and encouraged. Even if they differ from his own aspirations he learns to encourage them no matter what!

21. How to multitask

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It has been said that men aren't the best at multitasking. Yet along comes a child and they soon learn from them just how to multitask. In fact, if they don't they'll struggle to keep up with the fast pace of their child. They may find that they're taking an urgent call from work on their cell and a diaper accident suddenly means that one hand has a screaming baby in it, the other has a clean diaper and a wet wipe, and between their neck and ear is a cell phone!

22. How to adapt

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If there's anything a child teaches a dad, it's how to adapt. From changing diaper duty to escorting their teen to their first high school dance, a dad has to adapt constantly. A dad learns from their child the mastery of adapting during the crash course of parenthood. Children's ever-changing whims and continuous demands soon teach their dad to go with the flow.

23. Balancing lifestyle

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When a child comes along, everything a man knew before is altered. They may have been a partner and a career man, but until they have a child they do not know the art of balancing a lifestyle. A dad learns how to be a partner, how to be a career man, and a parent. At one point he may be sitting in an important meeting, in the next hour, he may be reading a bedtime story and making pretend animal noises.

24. To really make quality time, quality

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There's no one better than a child to teach you how to make the most of quality time. Children have an unfiltered joy and an appreciation for what's going on around them. When they are experiencing a moment they are fully in it. A dad learns to replicate this to be able to match the energy and enthusiasm of their child and enjoy their moments together!

25. When to take a step back

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Children and especially teens want to feel independent. They don't want to think that their dad is holding their hand through every inch of life even if they want to. A dad has to learn how to take a step back to allow their child to grow and explore, and learn that it's not about relinquishing control it's just about letting their child form their own opinions and make their own choices.

26. Acknowledging that they're always learning

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Having a child makes you realize that you don't have all the answers on how to raise a child and absolutely no parent manages to get it perfect! One thing that they do learn from their child is that they are still learning too. Sometimes a dad won't always react right or they will forget something important and realize that they can do their best but they; 're always learning.

27. To treasure the family moments

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Children are so precious and bring so much joy to a family that a father learns how to truly treasure family moments form their child whose relentless enthusiasm and open heart takes is infectious to everyone around. He learns to put aside the worries and distractions of everyday life and appreciate the small family moments for the precious memories that they are.

28. Balancing discipline and compassion

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A dad can't always be the fun one, unfortunately you've got to share both roles of good cop, and bad cop. A dad has to find that difficult balance between compassion for his mischief-maker who is navigating their way in the world, as well as a certain amount of discipline to ensure their child is going along a good path! And it can be difficult when you're looking into their puppy dog eyes and small quivering lip.

29. To have multiple roles

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A dad essentially has to do everything, they learn from heir child how to become the ultimate chameleon, the perfect fit for each scenario. And a child will need to have LOTS of different scenarios and go through sticky situations in which they want and need lots of different things from you. A dad will learn how to be a superhero, how to be a chef and a taxi, and more importantly how to be caring and kind too.

30. How to give advice

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Children are stubborn, and as soon as you tell them what to do they could go completely the opposite way and rebel. Even if you give them a piece of advice or suggestions...they may not receive it well or listen. If you say it in a way that they can then mull it over and think about it in their own terms then you have found the best way to give your child advice!