With Father Day's approaching we got to thinking: at what point did we know he'd be a great father? We asked our friends and family when they knew they had the beginnings of a great dad on their hands.
Here’s what they had to say:
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1. He kept his focus
"We’d go to the park, and he’d just throw a Frisbee back and forth with friends for ages, never getting frustrated at the wide throws he had to chase down. I remember thinking how you need that patience - that commitment to repetitive tasks - as a parent, and the temperament to still find it fun. And I was right. He can play a game for ages with our son and never tunes out."
2. He cared for someone else's child
"I knew he'd be a good Dad when I saw him carrying his niece all around the zoo!"
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3. He showed his commitment
"When he'd give up every single weekend just to drive three bratty kids (aged six, nine and 11) to their various sports events."
4. He’d do anything for me
"He went out for McDonald's ice cream in -23 degree weather because I wanted it!"
5. He had a level head
"When he remained calm every time I freaked out about something."
6. He came into my life
"I met him: for all the same reasons as he was immediately the best friend."
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7. He showed his tenderness
"He kissed my tummy every night during both pregnancies..."
8. He took care of me
"When he made sure I always ate my vegetables."
9. He made a personal change
"When he quit smoking for his daughter."
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10. I saw him with other kids
"When I was first dating my husband having children with him wasn't even on my radar, but I remember thinking, watching him play unselfconsciously with a friend's young twins, 'Hmmm, he's really comfortable with kids.' I think the maternal instinct in me automatically filed the thought away so when the time came for us to have kids years later it never even occurred to me to wonder (or worry) about what kind of dad he'd be."
11. He was patient
I knew he'd be a good dad when, for the 2 years we struggled with infertility he pretended he was indifferent about having kids so I never had to feel like I was disappointing him. He wanted a baby desperately but never let on.
Read more Father's Day articles: A Tribute to the Dad in Your Life
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