Online Quiz: Am I a Bad Dad?

When your child asks for something, do you always give it to them?

I try to meet them half way. As long as they don’t ruin their appetite, it’s whatever.

If it’s reasonable, like a glass of juice, then sure. But I absolutely don't give-in to begging.

Every parent buys love. If they want something and I can afford it, then why not?

It’s just easier to give in and buy them whatever. As long as they stop whining, I’m good.

A lot of dads don’t like enforcing rules. How strict are you when it comes to house rules?

Children need structure in their life. Rules are meant to be followed, not broken.

The neighborhood knows that I’m the Cool Dad. Here, let me show me you how to light that cigarette.

I am not over-the-top. As long as they don’t do something stupid, I might look the other way.

As long as they aren’t hurting anyone, what’s the matter? Let them be.

Would you rather that your children fear you, or respect you?

They need to know that if they do something dumb, there will be consequences. A little fear goes a long way.

I would prefer that they respect me. If they are going to fear me, it needs to come from a place of reverence.

I was always afraid to ask my father for things, and I never want them to feel that way with me.

They should be scared of me. If they aren’t afraid of their old man, then I’m doing something wrong.

How committed are you to projects? Do you finish one first before moving on?

Occasionally something winds up being left undone, but life gets busy. It’ll get finished when I have the time. Or feel like it.

Sometimes when I get a Honey-Do list, it’s easier to start one while the paint dries or something. The order isn’t important, so long as it all gets done.

There are only so many hours in a day, and I have lots to do. So, yeah, I will leave unfinished projects, but it’s not entirely my fault.

Integrity is important no matter the situation. I never start a new project before finishing the previous one.

As a parent, how do you view trust in terms of your children?

It depends on the situation. Sometimes letting your guard down only leads to them disappointing you.

Trust is a two-way street. It may be tough at times, but they need to trust me as much as I trust them.

I can’t even turn my back on these monsters. I have to keep them in line whether they want it or not.

Of course they trust me! I’m their dad! Besides, they do what I say around here.

If you have more than one child, do you try to be impartial?

I’m impartial within reason. But if one screws up, I shouldn’t have to punish both.

My daughter knows that she’s daddy’s little girl, and my son knows that he needs to toughen up. A little favoritism won’t hurt.

When you have an angel of a child and a monster as their sibling, how can you not show favoritism?

One of the best ways to show that you care is by being fair.

Sometimes dad does know best, but do you make every single decision for your child?

I certainly get the final say, but if they don't like baseball, I’m not going to force them to keep playing it. Life’s about having choices.

Of course I do. My kid’s an idiot; they wouldn’t last a day without me telling them how to live.

I want to make sure they succeed in life. And to do that, they need my guidance to make the right decisions.

There are steadfast rules like homework first and no fighting. However, if I know they’ll be okay, I can give them some extra leash.

How much do you rely on your children to take care of you?

I’m the parent, not them. I try to lean on them as minimally as I can.

I’ve worked hard all day. I expect someone else to have dinner on the table when I show up.

I expect them to pull their own weight, but I don’t need them to be my caregiver or anything.

I may have them help me out a little more than most parents, but it just makes us that much closer.

In your arsenal of parting tools, do you utilize guilt?

Sometimes I just can’t get them to see how badly the decision they’re making is going to impact them. I just have to guilt them out of it at some point.

If they look guilty, then they are guilty. And if they are, they need to be treated as such.

If they’re asking me for permission, chances are they’ve already decided. And to make them reconsider, you need a hefty helping of guilt.

I might toss in the general light parenting guilt trip. That's the right of any parent.