• grunt something that makes no sense to people, but means “leave me alone” to you
• head out to your sofa or your room and just sit there
• grab a bag of chips and maybe a beer or two and just veg in front of the tv
• lie down and read the book you’ve been trying to finish for months or years
• lie down
• actually read a newspaper
• go out with your buddies to watch the game and have some cold ones
• get online and do whatever

Instead this is what you do:

• Get home with a smile and say hello to everyone
• Ask your wife and the kids how their day was
• Cook or help with dinner
• Have dinner with the family and actually enjoy the time
• Help with cleaning up afterwards
• Read to/with the kids
• Talk about whatever with the kids
• Tuck them in
• Talk about whatever with your wife
• Enjoy a glass of wine

Yes, it’s hard.  Instead of doing what you want to do – sometimes desperately need to do – you put your family first.  This is what makes you the man – the family dad – you are.  Sometimes you wish things were a bit easier – but what challenge would that be? 

You know that doing what’s right is what makes you and your family prosper.  You know this because as a dad you feel it in your gut.  You know this because you’ve witnessed the consequences of other dads and even your own wrong actions.

You want the best for your family.  In order to have the best, you need to the best – and yes, it’s hard.