WonderDads is a new addition to the WonderMoms website, we found there was a need to reach out to our Men, Dads, Uncles, of our Moms. We will have monthly articles that will be submitted by WonderDad himself or guest Dads. 

I have always thought that the way we treat our children is a direct reflection of how we ourselves were treated, as children. Good, bad or indifferent, we all try to instill in them, the logic and insight that our own parents tried to teach us.

My relationship with my mother and father is one of mutual respect. I have always, as far back as I can remember treated them like, "how I want others to treat me." I come from a very loving, and considerate family whereby we would go out of our way to do things for each other whenever the need arose.

I have recently found myself in a bit of a dilemma. As our children get older, they begin to test boundaries that were always considered taboo. I realize that this is in fact all part of them growing as individuals. As a father of 4 daughters, aged from 5-12, it has become apparent to me that I am outnumbered. Family meetings will become a show of wills, and who has the stronger backbone.

I recently had a confrontation with my darling 8 year old. It all stemmed from asking her to aid her sisters and clean up the mess in the basement. It quickly escalated into her yelling at me. I took a step back and regrouped, in hopes that a little time away from it would allow me to approach it without raising my voice. I was wrong. She continued to tell me that she was not helping, as she didn't make the mess. All I asked was for 5 minutes of her time. Not!

My bravado kicked in and I informed the girls that this was in fact the rules of the house and if they didn't like them, then don't make the mess. Pretty simple, I thought. Teach your children respect and it will always be reciprocated. Not!

The other 3 began to clean up with relative ease. They were upset that their sister was not helping, "it is simply not fair." I get it! The threat of the toys not being there in the morning didn't help either. I wanted the respect from her that I thought I was deserving of. Boy was I wrong.

As the basement began to look like a basement again and not the rodeo barn/playground that it was being used for, I was shaken to my core when my 8 year old informed me that she hates her life living with me.

Considering that I work the equivalent of 2 full time jobs, I have recently begun to feel the pressures of missing out on things as a family. The decision from the very start has always been to have mommy stay home with the girls and daddy go out and work, in other words, be the provider. I realize that in today's society, it is considered to be a somewhat antiquated belief. It is however, what I still believe to be best for the children. My mother stayed home for my sister and I, as did my MIL for her children.

I know in my heart that she did not mean what she said, that it was in fact just, venting. It still felt like a bomb going off in my chest, as we do everything for our kids and hope it all goes well.

WonderMoms and I, are very loving parents and would trek to the ends of the earth for our children. We are just like all the other parents out there, show me respect and it will be shown in return. Treat me like dirt, and there will be consequences. I struggle with the right amount of punishment though.

I hope this post triggers the response of, " hey, that is what I am dealing with too." At the end of the day, I love my life and kids more than anything on earth and would do anything for them.