Why Dads Need to Show Up Every Day

Be around. Be involved. That is the mantra of the modern dad. The days where dad kissed Mom and the kids goodbye, went off to work, came home to dinner on the table, then disappeared into the other room to read the newspaper are gone (and thank goodness for that). These days, dads are more hands-on than ever when it comes to their kids.

When my twin daughters were born, there was no way I was going to sit on the sidelines and let my wife do all the work. I wanted to be in the trenches, changing diapers, swaddling, brushing teeth, and wiping bums and spit-up. I was there for first steps, potty training, and learning to ride bikes. I got them up, got them dressed, and took them to daycare or school. Now that they’re older, it’s helping with homework and listening to tween drama.

Being around for the big moments is crucial. But so is being there for the little ones, because that’s when you can really forge a bond. I remember taking my daughters to the mall when they were little. It was one of my first solo outings with them as toddlers. It was… eventful. There was the perilous incident on the escalator. One girl got on, the other hesitated. That left me with a choice – stay on and help the daughter who was nearing the top, or go back down and rescue the frightened daughter at the bottom. Thankfully, a kind stranger stepped in to help. That same day, I forgot where I parked the car. It began to pour as we wandered the lot. Toddlers aren’t exactly fleet of foot, so I picked both my daughters up and ran around until we found the car. We all got soaked. But my daughters still talk about that day. I don’t even know if they actually remember it, or if they’re just recounting the stories I’ve told them about it. Either way, it’s something special that only the three of us share.

Can being involved be overwhelming? Sure. Exhausting? Definitely. But I wouldn’t have it any other way, and I know plenty of dads who are exactly the same.

But here’s the thing – even though 21st-century dads love to get their hands dirty when it comes to their kids, they don’t always have the resources they need to get the job done. Take this example – you’re out running errands with your kid. You smell something stinky. Yup – time for a diaper change. You head for the nearest public washroom and guess what? No changing table. Argh. You’re not alone. 9 out of 10 dads have gone into a public restroom that has not had a changing table.

That could soon change, though, thanks to Pampers. The company is committed to helping remove barriers that keep us dads from being as hands-on as we want to be. Just in time for Father’s Day, Pampers is partnering up with Koala Kare to provide 5,000 changing tables in public restrooms around North America by 2021.

And they want us dads to share our hands-on moments. You can be a Pampers Dadvocate by sharing a video or photo of your favourite bonding moment using #LoveTheChange. If you do, you’ll contribute to even more changing tables in public restrooms across the U.S. and Canada.

So, go ahead – change those stinky diapers where everyone can see just what kind of modern dad you really are. Be around. Be involved. And, Happy Father’s Day!

This post is brought to you by Pampers but the images and opinions are our own.