"Be the best."

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" my father asked.

"I don't know," I replied.

"Well, whatever it is, be the best," he said.

"How is that possible?" I asked.

"Just be the best."

The puzzled five-year-old me thought about how unrealistic that sounded. For one thing, my father wasn't the best at anything and I certainly didn't know anyone that was the best at something. How could he expect me to be the best out of all the people in the world. If he wanted me to be the best, shouldn't he show me how?

Since then, I've enjoyed many hobbies and while I've strived to be great, I was nowhere near the best in anything.

27 years later, my wife and I were expecting a boy. I was determined to be the best father I could be. I had my doubts though. My parents were far from role models so I didn't know what being a great parent entailed. I've witnessed my sister and brother-in-law raise their daughter firsthand however, I was still unsure of myself. So my journey began with the purchase of "The Expectant Father: The Ultimate Guide to Dads-to-Be". There were very interesting bits of information that was helpful. It also questioned my parents' parenting because they did the opposite of what the author recommended.

Now my first child is 3 and my second is 4 months. They are my world and deserve the absolute best from me. With the struggles I've endured because of my insecurities and lack of skills, I'd like to ensure my children will be living their best lives. I'll know I've succeeded when my children are leading the world to a brighter future.

Everyone has a little crazy inside of them and I would like to minimize it for my children so hopefully they won't need therapy to live a better life. One way is to not punish them for bad behavior. I believe in consequences but deliberately punishing or threatening a child to straighten them out is counterintuitive. Children will feel abandoned when punished instead of welcomed and supported. I agree with Denmark's rehabilitation for prisoners so they can learn to control their bad behavior instead of ones with punishment. Disciplining a child is no different.

I won't stop expressing my love for them and being there for them. I won't stop telling them what a great job they've been doing and that I'm rooting for them to do their best.

Third, letting them know that everything is going to be okay. Those simple words teach resilience, confidence, and adaptability. It also may reduce anxiety when things don't go their way.

Some other tidbits I want my kids to know: Never let anything get in the way of your health and happiness. They are the most important things.

Manners are everything. I didn't understand what that meant. Then I remembered how Frank Underwood in House of Cards was able to persuade others by being well-mannered. Be warm and empathetic.

These are just a few things I found important for my children to know when they're older. I've since altered my father's "be the best" to "do your best and everything is going to be okay."