What makes a good father?

[bsfins]

Wow Talk about a little something rambling around in my head,and it turns into a 5 page thread....

I guess I can Chime in on this now....(Excuse me for rambling here,I'm exhausted,and I'll probably read this tomorrow and delete half of it...)

I'm not sure what type of father I'll be,and after reading all the responses I see a few things that seemed to be missed,and not taken into account....I feel your relationship with your father,and how you were raised has alot to do with how you raise your children.I just see it as sometimes people who were raised by very strict parents tend to let their kids get away with murder,some feel like My parents were strict,and hard on me so that's the way I raise my Kids...

Excuse me for getting personal here..I have to bring in my horrible family history......My Father sucked as a father,not just with me,but with my brother and sisters....My Parents were married at 17,with 2 kids by 19 (And Millionaires by 21...)My father owned car dealerships,and got into importing vehicles,then other types of business dealings.So he traveled a lot on business....Yes he was there as a disciplinarian,and provided well for the family. I was told that he was never around,never went to little league games,and tended to throw money at problems....He also cheated on my mother,Multiple times...Luckily My Parents were separated about the time I was born....and divorced when I was very small.....I've talked to my siblings alot about my Father,and they all talk about...Well that's what Grandpa did....That's how he was raised....When My Grandfather died,It was remarkable listening to stories about my grandfather. You would swear they were talking about my father....

My mom got remarried to get me back from my father when he kidnapped me.They were married for 8 or so years....In his family,Most of the men in his family rarely lived past 50....He loved the family life,but also wanted to have a ...umm Fun,party side..He wanted to go dancing,go play in pool tournaments,and basically go have a night life.....My Mom felt like this wasn't a good example of how a father is supposed to act,and she left him....

I think My Brother would have made very good father....The way he treated me growing up,was probably pretty good training...He was very understanding,and adapted well....He had a learning disability,that probably never got diagnosed while he was in school...He dropped out of high school,So he pushed me very hard to at least graduate from high school.When I got a bad grade,it was my Brother that I got scared to show my report card too....He learned a lot from the way My Mom raised us....My older sisters and Brother were wild children...They Burned the garage down,threw wild parties,Did horrible things to babysitters....Everytime they were given an inch,they took a yard....I wasn't a wild child,I got away with alot more because I was different.My mom raised each of us differently....My Brother knew that,and understood it..He also realized that times had changed,(After I saw the Movie Dazed and Confused,it explained alot of the things my brother talked about growing up),You weren't allowed to buy beer at the age of 18....He walked that fine Line of being my older brother looking out for me,Taking are of me,and Making sure I walked the straight and narrow...not to mention be my Brother.....

Sorry about getting personal.....
I know there is no right answer to the question,but Imo,there are a few people here on the board...(even though I've never met anyone) That would make very good fathers,and a few that Scare the hell out of me that they have reproduced....I think it's one thing to say you're a good parent,but it's another one to actually be a good parent.