Fathers: Will your children, one day, say to their children: "My dad made me laugh. He was a Happy Dad."?

My dad passed away in 1995 at the age of 66. I loved my dad and named my son after him. When I remember my father, I remember him laughing. He laughed a lot. Although life did not treat him well in his last days he passed away with a smile on his face. I remember that during my childhood, he always gave us the opportunity to joke with him. We never felt scared or disrespectful when we joked with him. My mother, on the other hand, was just the opposite. We had to be serious around her.

I do the same with my children. I always make sure they can joke with me. There are always laughter around our home. You might say, Nazareth: “You’re a comedian. There have to be laughter in your home.” Even if I were an accountant, I still want to make sure that there is laughter in my home.

Following are some steps fathers can take to ensure that their kids will remember them as the Happy Dads. (This applies to mothers, and grandparents as well):

1. Make sure you share funny jokes, you heard during the day, with your children when you get home.

2. Watch funny and appropriate YouTube video, that were shared with you, with them.

3. Watch a clean Standup comedy show (DVD) with them.

4. Do some pranks with your children. They will love it. Make sure Mom does not have to clean the mess.

5. Insist that each one of your children share with you at least one funny joke weekly.

6. Add a funny comic strip, or a joke on the refrigerator for your kids to see.

7. Insert Comedy CD’s in your car while you are driving home. It will get you in a better mode right when the kids are waiting to see you.

8. Have a pillow fight with them.

 

Comments

[Amy Schaefer]

AMEN!! My husband is the 'joker' and comedian in our family and our kids KNOW it! I love that we have that balance...altho during deployments when daddy is gone..mommy has to be both and of course my joking is more tickles and chasing...I think our home is FILLED with not only LOVE, but a lot of laughs and laughter!!! It's what makes the times apart sooo much easier...for the memories and for the homecoming! :) Thank you for sharing your laughs with us!