What Type Of Father Are You? - Modern Family Edition

The attuned & available father. You have most likely wanted to be a father your whole life. You may have had many moments in your life when you've thought, "Someday, I will be able to share this with my kids." As a father, nothing is more important than spending time or energy on your kids. You are willing to embarrass yourself, drop everything when they want you, and do everything to show your kids they can trust you and talk to you. Your 'dad radar' is always up, there is not much you miss when it comes to your kids and how they are feeling. You are a big kid at heart, and are glad to have family. Your kids know how much you cherish your memories with them.

The anxious type father. If you are a father like Mitchell, we recommend you sign up for a yoga class immediately. Do you find yourself constantly worrying if your kids are measuring up? Do you panic when you hear your friend talking about his kid's achievements and feel the need to try to one-up them? If the name of the school your kid attends, the brand of jeans they wear, or which party they were invited to feel more important to you than if you child is actually happy, you may be a Mitchell. The up-side is Mitchell fiercely loves his family, he just gets a little lost as to what is important for their happiness. It may be good for everyone to volunteer in the community together, or have family dinners most nights where the focus is on the listening to your kids.

The hysterical over-reacting type father. Cameron's parenting style pulls the loudest laughs while we watch the show's shenanigans, but it doesn't always feel so funny when you actually react like him. Have you ever sprinted faster than Usain Bolt into your child's room because you heard them cough? Do you feel like your son has betrayed you if he asks to sleep over at a friends house instead of wanting to go to the movies with you? Cameron also is the father who is living vicariously through his children. You may want to give your children a (real) choice about which activities they participate in, and then honor their requests. We promise, they will thank you in the long run.

The silent and wise type father. This type of dad doesn't mean the old dad. And to be clear, we are basing this fathering style on his second go round with parenting. Jay lives with a lot of regret about how he was as a parent when his two oldest children were young, and he has changed his ways. Jay now quietly guides his children to make their own choices, and never needs any acknowledgement for helping. His joy comes in watching his children come to a new understanding or make a big decision on their own, and makes sure his kids understand his way of letting them know he loves them.