Parenting advice for the Intergalactic Leader.

[Wish]

Well, it was mentioned on the "Introducing..." thread. Now it's time for a little fatherly advice....and it's wide open.

 

Truly a thread that can be revisited over the years... decades. I'm sure the Great One will have many questions as time marches on. This thread should be a great comfort in times of need and filled with sound advice. ;-)

 

My advice...enjoy the ride, it goes WAY faster then you can imagine.

[drew]

One way for it to not go so terribly fast... spend much of it in a trick boat!

[xrated]

Always keep mouth shut while changing diapers...even with a girl. Trust me.

 

And you'd be surprised how far they can crap from the middle of a room at 2 am...and at how quickly your wife might throw a towel over any that hit the bed and go back to sleep.

[ozski]

As a dad to three teenage girls I suggest that no time is too soon to prepare yourself for the day your little princess makes a seemingly overnight transformation into something else. I also have a great big black Maglite torch and a jar of Vaseline that I like to show each new teenage boy that comes sniffing around.

[skiray]

No matter what else is going on, if the baby is asleep, you or your wife need to be asleep. Trust me, the dirty clothes can wait.

[thager]

Vasectomy and ice. Lots of ice..... and Kilo Kai!!!

[Jordan]

A friend told me, and they were right, that it is a very short time that they will be young, so do all the extra stuff with them no matter how tired you are or how busy life becomes...

 

My daughter heads off to university this fall and I can honestly say that I am very glad that I went to all of those figure skating and dance competitions, that I taught her to waterski, that I drove her to and from parties, that I made ice rinks....trust me, it goes fast.

[crashman]

If you read a book that tells you exactly how to parent your child that book is wrong- it doesn't know your child.

[Horton]

Oooo stop. I am going to do exactly what my parents did. I am going to wing it.

[Than_Bogan]

Dont listen to parenting advice.

[Jordan]

Start every conversation with your daughter like this,

 

"Hey Baller, Horton here..."

[6balls]

In discipline, do what you say you are going to do. Therefore only say what you are actually willing to do.

[JohnCox]

Wing it is good, but just love her. I have a son and a daughter, and have learned that, no matter what, just love them. My experience with each has been drastically different. There are things that I wish I could change, but sometimes, all you can do is love them, and make sure they know that.

 

You don't need it yet, but attached is an application that you can provide to potential suitors in the future. I like to introduce myself to them by showing them my concealed weapons permit...and letting them know I may be armed at any time.

 

Enjoy it, @Horton

[Jordan]

[MrJones]

This is one area of life where "winging it" is unacceptable. It is best to have a plan that both parents have bought into and above all be consistent. "Babywise" would be my suggested reading assignment.

[ski6jones]

Lots of good advice so far, but you'll need one of these for the teenage years.

[ForrestGump]

@horton You're going to do what your parents did with you? Drop her on her head?

[klindy]

+1 @MrJones‌ for "Babywise". Some of the book is probably unnecessary but lots of wisdom in there.

[BlueSki]

The best advice I ever received with baby maintenance (perhaps this was marital advice) was to set the bar low. A friend had twins, so he had to help considerably with both babies. When baby 3 came earlier than they would have planned, he was fully taking care of twin 2-year-old girls but was in deep trouble for not helping with the new baby like he did with the twins. Thus, be the fun parent. That pays off big time when one parent needs to entertain and distract while the other addresses the business end of an atomic diaper.

[jhughes]

Be thankful every day that the kid is healthy. That's something that is really taken for granted unless you've experienced anything otherwise.

[Horton]

Back to water skiing please. The rest of my life is work and parenthood.

[Wish]

Water skiing.....hmmm. Ok. My daughter started out on my shoulders at 18mths hanging onto my hair while I rode jumpers. Oh.. and infant car seat fit snugly between the pylon and the passenger seat. There...water skiing.

[DaveD]

Make it a requirement for quests that want to ski that they have the change at least one diaper.

[SkiJay]

Make LOTS of deep loving eye contact starting now.

[Wish]

@SkiJay make sure you add something like...especially when she starts skiing.. As requested...ski talk. ;)

[GOODESkier]

Ski with her everyday. Starting today (If you haven't already had her in the boat......).

[gator1]

Don't let her ski till she begs to do it. Make her quit before she's tired. Only let her ski on warm days in warm water until she is hooked good. Remember, for girls, the gear has to match. Be the house, and dock, where the kids hang out. Make sure she sees the joy, not just the missed ball. After that, all you can do is hope she inherited the defective gene. If its not there, its just not there, and that is just fine too.

[thager]

You speak truth @Gator1. Luckily no one else in my family has the defective gene, although the driver genes appear to be dominant alleles!!

[eleeski]

@Horton Ski advice: don't wait until she can stand - put her on the front of double trick skis ASAP. While the water is warm.

 

[Andy]

Not skiing related, but may be later on in life. @horton always take the opportunity to be w her regardless of how exhausted you are. Don't forget to love her mother.

[ToddL]

The best way to teach your daughter that she is worthy of a man who respects her is to be that man to her mother.

[6balls]

@toddL I would double awesome that post if I could. I posted above and would add that it's exceptionally important to communicate/discuss issues with one's spouse and thus be on the same page presenting a united parental front at all times.