Share This Article
If having children is high on your priority list, it’s pretty important that you find a man who will be a good father. Being a parent is no easy task, so it’s natural (and perfectly fine) to wonder if a man has what it takes to raise a child. But what should you look for?
The men you date should first want the same thing as you. What you don’t want is to meet a man with whom you would like to have a child, while he has no desire at all . Finding a potential daddy therefore starts with the early assessment: ask the question about wanting children in the first conversations.
ALSO READ: 114 Best Date Ideas for First, Second and More Dates
No desire for children? No chance .
Wondering if a man can handle parenthood? If he even wants kids? And if he’ll be a good dad? Almost any man can have a baby, but not every man can be a good dad. Here are 11 signs he could be a great dad.
1. He helps with the housework
If his role in the household is limited to giving criticism or warming the couch, that doesn’t bode well for taking care of a baby. But if he does his share of the household chores – of his own accord – then this man is more likely to take on his share of the care as well. In other words, if he doesn’t do anything now, he won’t do anything later – when it’s most needed.
2. He can handle stress well
Absolutely nothing can prepare you for what is to come when your baby is born. After all, no one voluntarily practices for broken nights and a crying sound in the background. What does help is that a man can handle himself in stressful situations and can maintain control even under pressure. Because if there is ever a situation that will test him, it is that night when it is inconvenient and a crying, pooping baby takes away his sleep.
ALSO READ: Couples Have More in Common Than We Think’
3. He has a funny side
Does he startle you when you walk carelessly down the hall again? Or does he start tickling you when you can’t move? The best dads have never forgotten their playful behavior. With their funny side, they know how to entertain babies and children, because who doesn’t laugh at the crazy things such fathers do?
4. He is intuitive
After a hard day of meetings, traffic jams and nagging clients, you drive home to reluctantly prepare dinner. But when you get home, it’s already ready: “I saw your busy schedule, so I made us something nice today,” he says. As if he can read your mind. Men who do this have a quality that mothers appreciate, because this ‘sensing’ of the other comes in handy when children come into the picture.
5. He keeps himself under control
The last thing you want is to have children with someone who regularly throws tantrums. Since children also have tantrums, things can quickly get out of hand if you have a partner who exhibits the same behavior. These impulsive, intense forms of anger are something you would expect from a child, not from a father. But if he is understanding, keeps himself under control and empathizes with the other person, then these are signs that he will be a good father.
ALSO READ: Is He The One? Not If He Does These 25 Things
6. He has a sense of responsibility
If he says he’s going to do something, he’ll do it. He knows that some things aren’t fun to do, but he does it anyway out of a sense of duty. This makes him reliable as a father, because he’s a man you can count on. He’ll know that he’s responsible for raising the child, but he’ll also feel responsible.
7. He has a dog
There’s a big reason why men pose with a cute dog in dating photos – sometimes not even their own. They know that women love the image it creates; the caring man who is responsible for taking care of someone else. Plus, it proves that these men are capable of cleaning up someone else’s poop, all out of love. If anything, the fact that he has a dog proves that he has a caring side.
ALSO READ: One-Sided Relationship? 22 Signs It’s Coming from One Side
8. He makes sacrifices for others
Maybe he cancels a FIFA night with the boys to take care of you when you’re sick, or lends out his car so he can’t play sports himself. These selfless acts show that he’s flexible and willing to temporarily sacrifice himself for someone else. As a mom-to-be, this is a quality you want to see in a dad-to-be, because you’ll often have to sacrifice yourself as a parent.
9. He gets along well with other children
Does he have little brothers, sisters, nephews or nieces? Pay attention to how he reacts to these children, because this is usually a good indication of whether he will be a good father. These are typical parental instincts that you should look for, such as attentiveness and caring. Of course, some men really need to grow into parenthood before they are completely comfortable with children, but if he already has that without being a father himself… that says a lot.
ALSO READ: 35 Playful Dates to Keep Your Relationship Alive
10. He can take care of himself
What you don’t want to do is be a mother of two children – and one of them is your partner. If he doesn’t know how to take care of himself, like cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry, then he probably won’t be able to stand on his own two feet. That’s important to be aware of, because he can’t expect you to do everything and him to do nothing.
11. He wants to be a good father
Whether he has an inner desire to mentor a little version of himself or wants to be the father he never had, the fact that he wants to be a good father says it all. He doesn’t want to be a normal father, he wants to be a good father: one who will compete for the title of ‘Father of the Year’. And if he thinks he can be that, he will be.
P.S. Are you already following Gistinger.com on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter?