What Makes a Good Father? 8 Qualities to Embrace as a Dad

Table of Contents

• What Makes a Good Father? 7 Qualities to Embrace as a Dad
• A Good Father Is There for His Family Through Thick and Thin
• A Good Father Shows Support for His Children’s Interests
• A Good Father Respects His Partner
• A Good Father Communicates and Uses Active Listening
• A Good Father Is Fair
• A Good Father Brings Joy and Humor to His Family
• A Good Father Teaches Independence and Patience
• A Good Father Knows That Honesty Is the Best Policy

Growing up, I knew my dad was the architect of the man I was becoming; he worked tirelessly to ready me for the best and worst parts of life that he’d already tackled. Raised by his grandparents, he faced more obstacles than I can imagine, yet he’s always been the definition of what makes a good father (he’s also just a genuinely cool guy, which is a bonus).

But for all the men with MOX wanting to be a better dad or looking for some validation because parenting imposter syndrome is real, my dudes – let’s figure out what makes a good father.

Video: What Makes a Good Father? | Source: Order of Man

What Makes a Good Father Quality #1: A Good Father Is There for His Family Through Thick and Thin

The most precious thing we have is time. While that sounds cliché and like the plot of that weird 2011 Justin Timberlake movie, it’s true; where parents invest their time shows their priorities in life. When it comes to what makes a good father – try showing up for the important things, like dinners and nightly story times (my Dad reading me books is one of my favorite memories).

If you’re a dad who’s finding it hard to balance fatherhood with your career, check out this article from one of our founders, Peter Murane, on how he keeps the two in equilibrium.

What Makes a Good Father Quality #2: A Good Father Shows Support for His Children’s Interests

What Makes a Good Father Quality #3: A Good Father Respects His Partner

You don’t need MOX to tell you that times are changing. As men, movies, television, and even literature – in the past – have shown us in a negative light, boxing us in a stereotype of no emotion, no feelings, and sometimes, no respect for our partners. Not a cool role to fill, right?

Though my parents went through a divorce, my Dad was always my Mom’s number-one fan; he’d even talk to her about life and how I was doing in school on the phone regularly. Needless to say, I grew up knowing that it was okay to be a man who has feelings and shows respect.

Be nice out there, guys; your children are always watching, taking notes, and learning.

What Makes a Good Father Quality #4: A Good Father Communicates and Uses Active Listening

Dads love retelling stories, especially when it comes to their golden years of football and dating that girl who starred on Footloose for a whole five seconds in the ending party scene. No? Is that part just my Dad? Okay, moving on to what makes a good father – it’s cool for dads to share memories and advice, but it’s also important that they listen and communicate.

If you’ve never heard of a thing called “active listening” before, here’s what you need to know as a father:

• Active listening involves giving your full attention without distractions
• Active listeners listen with an open mind
• Active listeners give feedback but don’t interrupt
• Active listeners empathize and ask open-ended questions

What Makes a Good Father Quality #5: A Good Father Is Fair

Despite my parents' divorce, my Dad maintained a bond with me that rivaled the inseparability of a Gen Zer and their phone (they never put ‘em down). He treated me as more than a kid by being fair. This helped me to choose good behavior, minus that one time, but I haven’t told him about that yet. Since he’ll probably read this, you’ll have to wait to find out about it, too, sorry.

Anyway – more on what makes a good father; here are some reasons why being fair is a good quality for dads:

• Sets a Positive Example
• Promotes Healthy Relationships
• Builds Trust
• Encourages Emotional Intelligence
• Teaches Values

What Makes a Good Father Quality #6: A Good Father Brings Joy and Humor to His Family

My Dad is a hilarious guy; growing up, he had a pet monkey that hated the color red. When my uncle who had red hair would visit, my dad would give his primate BFF a broom so he could wack his brother for him a few times. He also just found out the artist Akon is not named Akorn, so do with that info what you will (and yes, he called him Akorn out loud on plenty of occasions).

I count myself lucky because I knew what joy and humor were at a very young age, especially when my dad dressed up as a Twinkie every year for work. My old man’s positive outlook and humorous personality were like the superglue for my family; those traits helped create an endless roll of awesome memories, while also keeping our relationship strong and fun.

What Makes a Good Father Quality #7: A Good Father Teaches Independence and Patience

When I’m asked what makes a good father – I always revert back to my Dad’s teachings of independence and patience. His work ethic was (and still is) nothing to be trifled with, but he was always there for me when I needed him, even though he worked three jobs; as a single parent, that was hard to do, but he did it with grace, patience, and a lot of independence.

I grew up watching him find happiness in his work, which is why I got a job the second I turned fifteen. To give me a leg up on life and to teach me independence and patience, he had me start paying my truck’s insurance immediately. While annoying at the time, it readied me for the real world, emotionally and physically. It also granted me some money-saving skills, which is a plus.

What Makes a Good Father Quality #8: A Good Father Knows That Honesty Is the Best Policy

My Dad is a pretty straight-up guy; he’ll tell you what you want to know, but he’ll make sure it’s 100% accurate before any words leave his mouth. He has always taught me that lying is never the way to go because you might get some bad juju in return and it could potentially hurt others.

I value that my Dad worked on teaching me the importance of honesty at a young age; it made me a better guy and helped me be more open in relationships and with communication. And no, Dad, I didn’t lie about having a party that one time you were out of town duck hunting, okay?

Be cool and stay honest, fathers, dudes, guys, and gentlemen because those things are what makes a good father.