But what I didn't know - and what I would learn over the ensuing 20 years - is that he would bring a lot of important stuff to the parenting table that I was woefully short on. Like a deep reservoir of patience. Superb negotiating skills. And the ability to listen without judgment, even on issues as seemingly inane as who pinched whom, and who got to use the red cup.
Dads are so often portrayed as doofuses in the broadcast media - either they're clueless loafers on hammocks, or they're know-it-all bossy types.
But the best dads I know fit neither stereotype. You can pick them out easily - the new ones are running with the jog-stroller in the neighborhood. Some are coaching kids' games today. Others have just now set down their cup of coffee and newspaper to address a problem with the computer or car for their toddler or teen.
