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10 Signs You’re Actually Nailing This Dad Thing
- Aussie Dadding
- Sep 6
- 3 min read
You’ve probably had that moment lying in bed, staring at the ceiling: Am I actually doing okay as a dad? The internet doesn’t help and is surely full of “perfect” parents making matching costumes or planting organic veggie gardens with their toddlers. It's easy to feel like you’re falling behind.
Here the thing, your kids don’t measure you against Pinterest. They measure you against presence. Against small, consistent actions. Against whether they feel loved and safe when you’re around.
“Good dads don’t have to do everything right. They just need to be there, and to love their kids loudly.”
Maggie Dent, Parenting Expert.
10 Signs You’re a Good Dad
You Show Up
Not with grand speeches, not with endless energy, you simply just show up. At training, at bedtime, at that school assembly you’d rather skip. Kids don’t remember how tired you were. They remember you were there.
You’ve Got an In-Joke
That ridiculous handshake. The funny voice you make for the dog. A word only you two get. Those silly rituals are the secret currency of connection. In-jokes are one of those quiet deposits into their memory bank.
You Know the Details
Their favourite snack. The friend they’ve suddenly decided is “annoying.” Which drink bottle is acceptable and which is definitely not. Remembering shows you’re tuned in, not just skimming the surface.
You Say Sorry
Dads lose their temper. It happens. But when you circle back with a simple, “Sorry, mate, I shouldn’t have snapped,” you’re modelling humility. You’re showing them mistakes aren’t the end of the story; they’re a chance to repair.
You Let Them Be Themselves
Your child doesn’t need to be a mini-you. Maybe they love footy. Maybe they love frogs. Maybe both. Backing their odd little passions tells them: You’re safe to be you here. That message carries more weight than any lecture.
You Do the Invisible Work
Packing lunches. Fixing the remote. Tackling laundry that could be classed as a health hazard. No one claps, but the household hums because you quietly hold up your end.
You Actually Listen
Not the distracted “mm-hmm” while scrolling your phone. Real listening. Even if it’s the tenth retelling of the same Minecraft saga. Your attention says, you matter enough to be heard.
You Celebrate the Small Wins
The goal isn’t to raise a superstar. It’s to raise someone who feels supported. So when you clap like the school play is the Grand Final, your child learns their effort is enough.
You Laugh at Yourself
The dodgy dad dancing. The Pokémon names you butcher. Laughing at yourself tells your child that imperfection isn’t shameful, it’s human. That lesson is freedom.
You’re Reading This
If you’re here, scrolling through an article about being a better dad, you’re already on the right track. Self-doubt is normal. But self-reflection? That’s the quiet superpower of a great dad.
As the old line goes: “The very fact that you worry about being a good dad is proof that you already are one.”
Forget the myth of the flawless father. Your kids don’t need a superhero. They need you. Messy, tired, funny, sometimes grumpy, always trying dad.
That’s what matters. That’s what sticks.
So, take the win. You’re already nailing more than you think.
DADDING IN ACTION |
Tell your child one specific thing you love about them randomly, then watch their whole face light up. |
Resources:
The New Dad’s Playbook by Benjamin Watson
A book offering honest and practical insights on fatherhood, encouraging dads to show up consistently and celebrate small wins.
The New Dad’s Playbook – (Book) | Baker Publishing Group
The The Modern Dads PodcastA podcast exploring modern fatherhood, focusing on presence, communication, and being an active participant in kids’ lives.The Modern Dads Podcast – (Podcast) | City Dads Group
Ready or Not, Here Life Comes by Craig W. Groeschel
A book helping fathers embrace imperfection and focus on meaningful presence rather than stress about “perfect parenting.”