Nearly every dad we’ve interviewed over the years has the same response when we ask, “What’s the single greatest quality in a great dad?”
There’s hardly any hesitation. “Being present,” is the resounding reply. “Just being there.”
Tom Tozer and Bill Black pose for a portrait Monday, March 28, 2016 at the Chattanooga Times Free Press.It doesn’t seem like a lot to ask, does it? Yet, it may be the most difficult task we have as dads. Being present.
This doesn’t just mean filling a physical space. It also means “being in the now” with your son or daughter. Being aware of where you are and who you’re with. It means focusing on the immediate and celebrating those precious beings who love you and need you. What a privilege.
Yet, for many of us dads, it’s a privilege that we squander. We get caught in the work race and social obligations.