Be a dad all the time

I just flew to LA and was reminded how important it is for a dad to be a dad all the time.  Be "on" all the time.  You get to rest when the kids are sleeping (although perhaps not completely at rest).  What am I saying?

On one of the legs to LA a young boy, three or younger or something like that that sat right behind me.  His dad was beside him in the middle seat and Mom beside Dad.  Most of the flight the kid kicked my seat, stood in his seat leaning and grabbing the back of mine, etc.  Pretty much being a little kid.  To some degree that's okay, but I can think of very few reasons why a kid needs to kick the seat in front of him.  He did it because it was part of being a kid and part of entertaining himself.

How does that tie in to the title?  Dad was right beside the boy during the whole flight, reading a book, and letting the boy do what he wanted regardless of the impact on those around him.  What would I suggest Dad do instead?  Put the book down and spend the time with his kid providing the entertainment the boy needs.  Kids that age are not naturally intended to fly cross-country in an airplane (could be said for anybody at any age) so that needs to be considered and Dad should have stepped in to help make the flight enjoyable for the boy and for those around (and definitely in front of) him.  Read to him, color with him, eat with him, distract him, etc.  That's what kids of that age need for entertainment - especially in an atmosphere like that.

This is a tough balance between letting kids be kids, but it's also what helps differentiate between a dad and a great dad.

By the way, all these little tips are like a mosaic, they work best when applied together rather than as discrete actions.