I love it when you call me 'Big Poppa'

If you know me, you may know that I am going to be a dad. I've been thinking a lot about what kind of dad I am going to be, and what I want to teach my child. We decided to learn the gender of our child at the last ultrasound, so I know that I am going to have a son. Of course, some part of me is quite happy to know that my family name has the opportunity to continue as a result, but I am also concerned with what sort of man I will raise.

You see, I look around me and see boys and men who don't act right. They treat women poorly, are disrespectful of their elders, regularly fail to be courteous, and generally act like petulant brats. I look around and see girls and women who have been conditioned to expect boys and men to behave like moronic animals, and have convinced themselves that accepting such behavior is the cost of having a mate.

I don't want to raise such a man. I want to raise a man who is strong, proud, courteous, intellectually curious, caring, respectful...I want to raise a man who reveres women, not as sexual objects but as equals, as possessors of wisdom and perspective that balances his own. I want to raise a man who celebrates the contributions of his elders to his own comfort and security. In short, I want to raise a 'real' man.

I sincerely hope that I am qualified. Wish me luck.