Are You A Father Or A Daddy?

I have come to realize that there is a huge difference between a father and a daddy.  I had a father, I’m trying to be a daddy.  So just for fun, here are a few differences between a father and a daddy:

A father changes a diaper by yelling, “Hon, the baby needs to be changed!”
A daddy can change a diaper while talking on the phone, and go right back to eating a sandwich.

A father still watches 2-3 football games every Sunday, in their entirety, LIVE!
A daddy thinks whoever invented TIVO should win the Nobel Prize.

A father looks like a deer in headlights when he hears, “I need to run out, you watch the kids for a while.”
A daddy enjoys being left alone with the kids because he can play with his kids while surfing the web and watching Sports Center.

A father can answer questions about the government and the stock market.
A daddy can also answer, “Who do we ask for help, when we don’t know which way to go?” and “Can We Build it?” (For the fathers, The map and YES, WE CAN!)

To a father, making lunch means opening a can of Spaghetti-Os or frozen pizza.
To a daddy, well this one’s a push.  Forget it.

To a father, a peaceful quiet moment actually requires Quiet and Peacefulness.
To a daddy, a peaceful quiet moment can include kids screaming and the lights and sounds of kids toys that make Times Square look tame, as long as he can sit on the couch and especially if he can watch a few minutes of Sports Center.

A father talks to his kids at dinner and might know the name of their kid’s best friend.
A daddy not only knows his kid’s friends, he knows which ones to stay clear of on the playground, and which one’s parents to stay clear of at birthday parties.

A father thinks the best thing he can do for his family is work hard and make as much money as he can so he can provide a nice home for his family and his children will have everything they need and most of what they want.

A daddy gets that, but he thinks the most important thing he can do for his family is to be present in his children’s lives and participate in forming the way they look at the world.

I’m trying real hard to be a daddy.  I don’t catch every big moment, but I get to see more than most, and that makes me pretty lucky. What about you?  Leave a comment and tell me what you think.