Father’s Day Advice from these Digital Dads

News flash: The generation that grew up on the buzzing sounds of dial-up internet is now officially grown up and running the world. In fact, not a few of them are already full-fledged fathers. So we threw a couple of these digital dads a fun, hypothetical question: If they could go a few years back in time (back when 3G was new and their own fathers weren’t yet on Facebook), what advice would they give to themselves on how to survive being a father?

Ian Bacungan
www.theroguewriter.net / DWDD
Message for his younger self : “Remember, acceptance freed me and helped me survive fatherhood. Honestly, at first, I was so afraid. I am not prepared to be a father. I am afraid that I won’t be able to support the needs of my children. I was also thinking that party days and good times are over.

“Accepting the reality that I will already be a father helped me become a better man and eventually, a better father. Accepting fatherhood gave me a sense of direction and responsibility. Acceptance made me feel a stronger bond between me and my kids. After all, party days are not over, fathers like me should just know out limits and priorities.”

Marco Rafael
www.m2comms.com
Message for his younger self: “My best advice would be, to face everything that happens and not worry about it too much. I know there are a lot of worries, fears, and anxieties involved with becoming a father. ‘What if she grows up a misfit?’ ‘What if she doesn’t like me as a father?’ ‘What if I don’t give her a proper life?’ Well, what if you just shut it, man up, and be a father to your daughter? Don’t try to overthink stuff. Be the best dad that you can be. Experience not just the pleasures and joy of being a father but also the pains. How else would you explain to your 4 year-old daughter that her beloved grandfather has passed away?”

Eli Villagonzalo
www.Elifestylemanila.com
Message for his younger self: “I keep thinking: If I could have strived more during the earlier days, maybe if I tried to work abroad, or climbed the corporate ladder earlier, or been more aggressive at work, or devoted more time and persistence… But honestly, I have no regrets, only that life could have been much better if I had faced the tougher days when I was younger. So that’s what I would tell myself.”

Azrael Coladilla
azraelsmerryland.blogspot.com
Message for his younger self: “Good job for making the best decision for yourself and your family. You might feel like you’re not ready, but you’re going to do great as a young father and husband. Kudos to you, and more power for your future!”

Brian Herrera
media-meter.net
Message for his younger self: “It won’t be easy, but it will be the best thing that will ever happen to you. In the course of your fatherhood, you will enjoy every single day of being a dad.”

Enzo Luna
www.juanmanilaexpress.com

Message for his younger self: “I don’t have any regrets having to raise my two kids, and so surviving fatherhood wasn’t a tough job for me. But if I have to go back in time and have a heart-to-heart talk to my young self, I would say to him: ‘Love your kids even more, no matter what they do or what becomes of them. Just keep it cool raising your kids.’

“To date, I don’t have big problems with my kids. Their mom and I, we taught them to be responsible and independent at their young age. I’m glad they’re growing up well.”

 

To all dads out there: If you could travel slightly back in time, what would you tell yourself?

Happy Father’s Day!