John Wooden’s Perspective on Fatherhood
There are many things that fathers must do to raise happy and healthy children. One of which could easily own the label as both the hardest and easiest thing to do of them all. John Wooden sums this gift that all fathers must aspire to provide their children quite elegantly:
The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.
When I first read this quote, I didn’t immediately agree with it. My first thought was that there are many great fathers who aren’t in love with their children’s mom and may have never been in love with her.
However, after giving this quote further thought I can see where Wooden was coming from. Love is the foundation for family, and family is the foundation for the future. Given that, the best way to teach your children how to love is to love their mother. While this may not be an option for some, it should be a foundational aspiration for all boys who will one day become fathers.