I've shared this great list with fathers for a number of years, but have lost the source for it. My apologies to the author. Please let me know if you the book this is from.

What can I do to be the best father possible?

IN YOURSELF

-Embrace the irreplaceable value of your fatherhood in your life as a man.

-Think long, hard, and often about what you want to give your children besides your money.

-Acknowledge fatherhood as one of the longest, most creative, and rewarding adventures of your inner life.

 -Leave room for failure and forgiveness in yourself (and, of course, others). There is no perfect father-yours wasn’t and neither are you.

-Responsibly communicate to abusive or neglecting fathers your concerns about their kids and them.

-Look hard at your father in you. He’s there. Understand what you are doing with your father’s parenting style in the raising of your own child-modeling, overcoming, repairing, emulating?-or a quilt of all these.

-Ask yourself, How do I want the mother of my child to think and feel about me as a father?

-Talk every day with someone outside your family, especially other men, about your fathering. It’s called witness.

-Examine your own prejudices regarding men’s and women’s work.

WITH YOUR CHILDREN

-Your affection is the irreplaceable communication of your child’s unique value to you.

-Listen to your child’s view of the world and share the last word occasionally.

-Your skills and passions outside work are fascinating to your kids. Share these with them. You are as unique as they are.

-Discipline means to teach, not punish. So forget intimidation and threats, both physical and emotional. They teach your child to fear and avoid, not respect and emulate, you. 

-When with your child, be actively attentive and emotionally present. Quality time is a myth. Your children are raised in ordinary time, and being there-being with your kids-gives you the authority you need to do a good job. Fathering takes more than weekends.

-Live the values and habits you’d be thrilled to see in your children. They remember better than you.

-Time alone together is critical at all ages-read when they’re little, drive when they’re older.

-Know your kids’ world, the friends, their doctor. Meet their teachers early and often, and speak up to resist sidelining yourself. Volunteer in the classroom; you’ll learn volumes.

WITH YOUR CHILDREN’S MOTHER

-Parenting is an equal partnership emotionally, if not always mathematically, within and outside marriage.

-Engage in discussions with your children’s mother about shared authority and power between men and women.

-Ask yourself, how can my relationship with their mother be a positive resource in my kids’ life? Start always with what you respect.

-Keep up on your parenting skills together. Share articles or books discussing appropriate expectations for your children at relevant ages.

-When married, carefully maintain your relationship with your kids’ mother: date her, snuggle with her, ritualize times to be together. A short talk is better than no talk when you’re exhausted.

IN YOUR WORK

-Discourage negative stereotypes of fathers wherever your find them-at the water cooler, in meetings, in policy statement, etc.

-Support family leave for men and women, pitch in to cover, confront the naysayers.

-Bring your children to work. Show them your space. Introduce them to your colleagues. Talk to them about what you do.

-Invite your children to know this side of your world outside home. Ask them what they see and think. Seek their advice occasionally for some eye-opening wisdom.