Have you ever heard a variation of the phrase “anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad?” One of the key components to being a good dad is being intentional. In other words, being a dad is all about playing an active role in your child’s life.

How can over-the-road dads be intentional? How can you set a good example for your kids? What are some ways you can be present, even while miles apart?

Good Dads board member and Director of Sales and Marketing at Prime Dillon Low knows a thing or two about being an intentional father to his three-year-old son, Ozzie. While not an over-the-road driver, Dillon has worked for Prime for eight years and is passionate about fatherhood. Don’t miss his insights, especially if you’re a dad or granddad to younger children!

You don’t always have to be physically present to be intentional

What does it mean to be an intentional father? For Dillon, it means showing up, physically or otherwise. It involves passing down values, such as honesty, loyalty or family.

For over-the-road fathers, Dillon suggests working on intentionality with your co-parent/partner at home. He and his wife, Sarah, work together to solve problems and set goals, both big and small.

“(It’s) important that my son knows he needs to respect both of us,” he said. “He knows (our) word is final.”

Dillon says that Prime drivers can still be intentional dads, even away from home. Scheduling video calls, playing games, taking pictures and collecting souvenirs are some of the ways he suggests over-the-road dads can be intentional. Want to know more ways to be an intentional dad? Don’t miss the Good Dads blog on the topic, featuring ideas for dads of children of all ages.

Being intentional helps your children make good choices

Intentionality is fluid, but it can help you make the right choices. In Dillon’s case, he teaches his son to be intentional in his day-to-day life to build good habits. Whether it’s simple, like brushing his teeth, or more complex, like showing respect to his friends during playtime, Dillon wants his kiddo to be intentional with his actions.

“Intentionality is important,” he said. “It goes hand-in-hand with routines and good habits.”

Dillon also expressed how crucial it is to set a good example for your kids.

As a parent, your kids are looking and listening to you all the time,” he said.

One of the lessons he teaches his son is that it’s okay to show your emotions. He’s intentional with his wording, calling larger emotional moments “big feelings.” At the same time, Dillon lets Ozzie know that when he’s done expressing them, they can talk through and work through the feelings together.

Get down to your child’s level

How low can you go to be a Good Dad? Previously, a fellow Good Dads board member shared this piece of wisdom in a blog post on effective communication with your youngsters. Getting down to your child’s level when speaking to them allows the both of you to see eye-to-eye and, according to Dillon, “communicate in a way they understand.”

“Personally, I think my son looks up to me,” Dillon said, “but I never want him to think I look down and speak down to him.”

For Dillon, communicating on the same level as his son allows him to build understanding. For example, his family had spaghetti for dinner one night, and Ozzie was upset because it wasn’t what he wanted. While feeling frustrated at first, Dillon realized that for a three-year-old, that was probably one of the worst things that’s ever happened to him, so of course he’s going to express himself accordingly!

“It’s important not to close yourself off to being able to think like your kid might think,” he said. “Try to understand.”

Getting down to your child’s level allows your children to have a positive experience with you by being an active listener, teaching them the value of respect. It also demonstrates your intentions (to talk, to play, etc.) and builds understanding.

Set aside time for your child and limit distractions

Dillon’s world revolves around his little boy. He says that he hopes as his son grows up, he’ll look back fondly on memories of his father and the fact that he always wanted to spend time with him. For this to happen, Dillon intentionally sets aside time in his day for playtime.

“Right now he’s very much in his dinosaurs and Hot Wheels phase,” he chuckled. “To be intentional, my phone is in the other room, and I don’t have distractions. (Ozzie) has all my attention.”

Over-the-road dads can engage in playtime with their children, as well. Know what your child’s current interests are and ask them plenty of questions. Stay in the loop with what’s going on at home. Dillon says that in doing so, it helps you to be more present in the lives of your children and to be more intentional.

Final Words

Being an intentional parent is a process, but just because you’re still growing doesn’t mean you’re doing a bad job! For Dillon, one of the best things about being a parent is the growing process.

“I feel like I learn something new about my wife and my son every single day,” he said. “I learn different ways to communicate … and get back in touch with parts of myself I lost touch with.”

Fatherhood means the world to Dillon, and that includes the challenging parts! Even when parenting becomes overwhelming, Dillon thinks back on the moments when he dreamed and prayed to become a father.

“(Fatherhood) is the most challenging and rewarding thing you’ll ever do,” he said. “Recognize challenges as blessings. At the end of the day, you’re a daddy to an awesome kid.”