A Guy Raising an 8-Year-Old Daughter Shares His 20 Rules to Becoming an Awesome Dad

It’s not the number of years in your life that matters, it’s the quality of your life that counts. This has become a lifelong motto for Michael Mitchell, a loving husband and caring father who has a blog called Life to Her Years. In the blog, Michael collects his thoughts about being a father and shares some parenting tips with all the men who are eager to become great dads to their daughters.

Bright Side chose for you, 20 of Michael’s rules that should be adopted by every father.

20. Love her mom. When she grows up, she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her like you treated her mother.

19. Ice cream covers up a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.

18. Savor every moment you have together. Someday soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bee’s knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You’d better cherish it while you can.

17. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.

16. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.

15. Never miss her birthday. In 10 years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.

14. Save the day. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights are optional.

13. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink.

12. Learn to trust her. Give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.

11. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.

10. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.

9. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.

8. Somewhere between the time she turns 3 and her 6th birthday, she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.

7. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her soul. It’s not bad for yours either.

6. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there. It’s their loss.

5. Teach her how to change a flat tire. But be sure she’ll still call you for help the first time it happens.

4. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait until her wedding day.

3. Buy her a pair of chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.

2. Of course, you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play it anyway.

1. Always be there. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Don’t just sit idly by while she adds years to her life...add life to her years.

Do you agree or disagree with these rules? Can you add any tips to the list? Feel free to share your own parenting rules in the comments!