Being a father is one of the best things any man can do, in my opinion. But the welfare of fathers can often be a little forgotten. There can be a lot of press discussing how mothers can feel isolated. The importance of time for themselves and remembering who they were before they became parents. But it is also the same for dads.
Becoming a father is just as overwhelming. Whether you are heading out to work each day or deciding to take paternity leave, even becoming a stay at home dad. While it’s important for mums to make “mum friends” it’s just as important for dads to have their own support network too. While some of us may not be big over sharers or talkers, it’s good to know that we have a good support network of friends around us. Taking time off to spend with friends or for yourself can really help. With that in mind, here are some suggestions.
An afternoon with the kids
Meeting up with other dads and the kids is a great way to spend an afternoon. You could go to the park and enjoy the great outdoors while still having fun with your children. The bonus part is that your partner gets some alone time. It’s a winning combination.
Something competitive
Who could say no to the chance of getting together for a dad’s day out and making it competitive? It’s in our nature. Things like go karting and paintball always go down well. You could also look at the way you can make more of the time spent with friends such as watching a sporting activity with some fun to make it competitive then websites like supanet.com is a good place to start. It doesn’t have to be a big day out, but finding some fun that you can do with friends or even on your own, within reason, can help you to find your identity again.
A day at the races
It’s nice to have a day out booked in the diary. One where you can wear something smart or outside of your norm. Enjoy a few drinks and place a few cheeky bets on the horse racing. It can build up a lot of banter between you and your friends and give you a little escape from daily life.
Sunday afternoon beverages at the local pub
There is something great about heading to the pub on a sunday. Perhaps watching your team play football or sampling some of the other sports airing. It’s a great chance to catch up in a relaxed environment over a pint or two. At this stage, you may be quite relaxed after a great weekend.
Playing sports
Getting together with a few of your friends and playing sports like golf, football or racquet sports is a great way to spend time together. Often meeting up with people to do things makes it a more regular activity. Giving you that time to yourself that can rejuvenate you for the week ahead.
Let’s hope this has inspired you to think more about your support network. As a dad, it’s good to have that backup.
