Love Notes 4.1 586 of 600

47
Copyright 2025 Marline E. Pearson
Finish this statement with a few statements of your own. Think about what
it truly means to be a good father. Some may have a positive father/father
figure in their lives. Some have not. Some may have a great single mom. Some
have been raised by relatives or foster parents. In this activity, focus on
what you feel are the characteristics and qualities of being a good father
or father-like figure.
Finishing school, finding a job, and then working to keep your marriage
healthy is one of the best tickets for a young man to be a hands-on,
stand-up father. If you are not together with your child’s other parent,
work on developing your communication and a cooperative relationship.
Being a Good
Father Means…
being
a
good
father
means

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(c)  2025 The Dibble Institute. All Rights reserved.

Extracted Text (may have errors)

47
Copyright 2025 Marline E. Pearson
Finish this statement with a few statements of your own. Think about what
it truly means to be a good father. Some may have a positive father/father
figure in their lives. Some have not. Some may have a great single mom. Some
have been raised by relatives or foster parents. In this activity, focus on
what you feel are the characteristics and qualities of being a good father
or father-like figure.
Finishing school, finding a job, and then working to keep your marriage
healthy is one of the best tickets for a young man to be a hands-on,
stand-up father. If you are not together with your child’s other parent,
work on developing your communication and a cooperative relationship.
Being a Good
Father Means…
being
a
good
father
means

Help

48
Copyright 2025 Marline E. Pearson
Advice from Former Teen Parents
1 There is zero tolerance for abuse. Growing up amidst domestic violence and high
levels of conflict puts a child at risk for all sorts of problems.
2 Parents assess their relationship. Is it safe? Should it end? Or does it have
potential, and do we want a future together? If so, what skills do we need to build? Children benefit if
parents work on building a healthy relationship and deepen their commitment to each other.
3 Parents work on communication, whether they stay together or not. Avoid the
drama by building communication skills for handling differences and conflicts so you can co-parent
effectively. Never badmouth the other parent in front of your child—it only hurts the child.
4 Parents learn about child development, especially the experiences in the
first few years that set a child up for a healthy start. Babies need loving interaction and stimulating
experiences to build their brains and emotional world. As they grow, children also need parents who
encourage, protect, and use effective discipline practices. Together or apart, get on the same page
about parenting practices. Seek out resources/parenting classes.
5 If separated, both parents put their child first before any new
partner. Avoid sliding into new relationships. Casually bringing new partners into the home can
pose risks to children, even abuse. Use the relationship skills you’ve learned to be wiser about choosing
partners and pacing your involvement more slowly.
6 Parents focus on education and employment goals. A child will
benefit from parents who focus on finishing school and pursuing employment goals.
7 Parents wait on having another child (whether together or in a new
relationship) until each is more settled with education and employment and with a solidly committed
partner—spouse.
8 Dad isn’t missing in action but stays involved daily—unless his presence is dangerous.
Dad needs to be part of a parenting team, not a treat parent who drops in occasionally. Mom should
welcome Dad’s participation and try hard not to shut him out or use the child to punish him.
9 Both parents understand the importance of stability and
safety for a child’s wellbeing. Establish routines (bed, nap, eating, reading). Avoid
taking a child on a roller coaster of multiple relationships as you figure out your love life. Reach out to
community and family connections for support.
Try to see it through the eyes of a child.
Bright Futures
for Babies
bright
futures
for babies

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(c)  2025 The Dibble Institute. All Rights reserved.

46
Copyright 2025 Marline E. Pearson
Imagine you’re a child about to be born. You are making a wish list of the
needs and wants you hope your parents will provide. Make a list of what
you think a child might need or want at different stages of life—as a baby,
toddler, school-age child, teenager.
Think of all the things that would help a child. You can include material things—like the basics of food or shelter—but
also include social and emotional needs of children at different stages that would help a child grow up safe, healthy,
and happy. For example, what might contribute to a child’s physical health and foster their emotional health? What
helps a child’s self-esteem—feeling competent, confident, and good about themselves? What helps a kid succeed in
school? What helps a teenager stay on track and out of trouble? What behaviors and characteristics of parents help?
Consider anything and everything you can.
My Wish List of Wants and Needs
As a baby:
As a toddler:
As a school-age child:
As a teenager:
A Child’s Wish List
a child’s
wish
list

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(c)  2025 The Dibble Institute. All Rights reserved.

Extracted Text (may have errors)

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