DADLY Dad’s Coffee Table Book Features Inspirational Dad

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Inspirational Dad
David Drysdale, Scotland, United Kingdom
www.fathersnetwork.org.uk

From DADLY Dads: Parent of the 21st Century Copyright © 2018 Motivational Press. Reprinted with permission. By Hogan Hilling and Austin Dowd.

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I am a dad of two, co-leader in training of the Mankind Project UK, the founder, and CEO of Fathers Network Scotland and one of the originators of Year of the Dad 2016. In 2015 I was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive cancer, which paralyzed me from the chest down – and on the same day, my wife Misol discovered she was pregnant.

Writing this from a hospice bed, I feel blessed to be able to cuddle my 9-year-old son Manow and baby daughter, Maya. I have loved and cherished my life, but it is likely to be at an end by the time you read this book.

Quote.

Become who you are. Make what only you can make. – Friedrich Nietzsche

What I do well as a dad

I listen to my son, praise him freely and tell him I love him every day. I think it’s important that he knows that those closest to him love him unconditionally: he doesn’t have to be anything or do anything – being himself is enough.

What I learned from another dad

To allow your children to be who they are and make their own mistakes. We’re here for guidance, not to tell our children what to be or do every step of the way.

A lesson learned from my child

I’ve learned patience. Children do things in their own time; they’re not going to do it when you demand it, in adult time. I try to be aware of what they need and what they’re doing and not impose all my own demands on the situation.

A successful fatherhood moment

Telling my son, Manow, that I was going to die soon was unbearable, but I think I did it as well as I could. I kept it simple and didn’t use any negative language. I explained that the treatment had not worked and that meant I would die soon – then I hugged and comforted him as the waves of grief came. I’m really proud that he has since told his friends – he hasn’t bottled up his emotions.

Dad I admire

So many dads in my network have served as good role models for me. What they all have in common is the ability to let go – not to be over-precious or over-bearing. They’ve done it in different ways, but I admire them all.

David Drysdale died peacefully on Monday, July 4^th, 2016

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Originally published in DADLY Dads: Parent of the 21st Century Copyright © 2018 Motivational Press. Reprinted with permission.

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Photos courtesy of the author.
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