“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned.” Yeah - no messing around when those words drop. Father is a serious word. it’s the one you hear right before judgment, grounding, or a very long talk you didn’t ask for. Maybe there’s grace, maybe not. Either way, it’s not exactly fun.

Then there’s Darth Vader dropping the classic: “...I am your father.”
Huge moment, loads of drama - and still absolutely zero fun for the poor kid on the receiving end.

When Father speaks, the air stiffens. He drops the bomb, delivers the verdict, the jokes pack up and leave.

So it’s no wonder many men freeze up at the thought of having a kid. It’s already the biggest change there is - but add the weight of becoming a father, and it can feel like too much to carry.

Do you want some unsolicited advice (well, who doesn't)? For what it’s worth - don’t be a father. Be a dad instead.

A dad knows the best friend’s name, the favorite hoodie, can name every Paw Patrol pup, and doesn’t mind spending an entire evening knee-deep in Legos. A dad cringes - hard - but calmly survives Gangnam Style played ten times in a row.
He might even turn a blind eye to that R-rated movie - if it’s only rated that way because someone says “balls.” The world can be ugly, but a dad makes his kids feel like they’re the best part of it.

That doesn’t mean it’s all laughs and R-rated movie nights. Being a dad isn’t just about fun or celebrating every moment - it’s standing firm when it’s hard, setting the boundaries that need setting, and handing down the stuff that actually matters.

I once watched Kamasi Washington play in Amsterdam. Midway through, he introduced his “pops” - his actual dad, also playing with the band - and kept bringing him up throughout the show.

You can feel the difference. Father and pops mean the same thing, but one demands respect, the other earns it. Kamasi’s dad raised a legend - and did it without ever losing the warmth of “Pops.”

There’s simply room for it all.