I can't believe people are telling you that crap. They are telling you to do away with everything you enjoy which will make you a miserable person. And if you are miserable, that will have affects on your child. You don't have to give up anything, just make adjustments. As long as the bills get paid and the family gets fed, you can still have your toys.

I have been itching for someone to tell me how I should be collecting because of this and that. Suprisingly, no one has done it yet. Oh, my day will come.

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Agreed, that is crap that some one would tell you how to be a 'dad'.

As I mentioned in my prior post, don't lose your own identity in becoming a parent. You CAN still like Xbox, GIJoe and whatever. Just because you have a kid doesn't me that you stop existing as an individual with your own goals, interests and hobbies.

If they say 'you have to grow up' meaning being responsible, I think thats a given. Yes, the families needs will always come before that Silver Headed 25 Destro, but once your families needs are taken care of, get whatcha want (with your wifes full knowledge of course).

I'm going to use myself as an example of my typical week:
Monday -Friday: I get up at 6:30 and get my two kids (4 and *) dressed, fed and ready for school. I let me wife sleep in Monday thru Friday which means she can sleep to 7:30.

My daughter gets on the bus at 8am, and my wife takes my son to pre-school at 8am while she leaves to her studio. At 8:30 I drive to our other business and work from 9am till 4pm. While I work the brick & mortar business I list new items on my website, take pics and crap them so I make the best use of my time.

At 4:30 I get home and spend time with the kids and wife till 8pm, bedtime. After bedtime I either go in the Joe Room and ship orders or paint, play XBOX with the JC guys, or hang out with my wife.

On weekends we do something as a family, such as going to the zoo, the waterpark or whatever. Any night we can get a babysitter, we go out as a couple. If we can get a parent to watch the kids overnight, we stay out overnight. We also use weekends to work in the yard.

My wife works from 8:30 till 4pm 4 days a week and takes 3 days off a week. She sets her own hours to get what she needs done within those 4 days. When she's not working, she's helping me with whatever I need, planning a future vacation, or spending some alone time before everyone gets home.

All of our needs are met. Our kids are taken care of, AND we're taken care of. I watch Star Trek with my daughter, have a GIJOE room and play an XBOX whenever I can. I am dedicated to my family 1000000%.

I think I'm a great father and you will be too, if you're honest with yourself and with your responsiblities. You know right from wrong, you know what you need to do. Set high standards for yourself and meet then and your family will flourish.

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