Issue #51 : Trad Dad, Come Back!

..and why they need to..

Ah, mums, the chameleons of the parenting world!

We’ve got the helicopter mums hovering like drones, the soccer mums with their minivans, traditional mums knitting away, no-nonsense mums cracking whips, mums' mums dishing out wisdom (and sometimes good food), someone else’s mum who somehow always has snacks, mums who aren’t mums but do a smashing job, and mums who can’t be mums but are there in spirit. Each one has her unique style, navigating the chaos that is child-rearing with the grace of a cat on a hot tin roof.

But dads?

Oh, darling, dads are a different breed altogether. Often shoved to the back shelf like that forgotten jar of pickles, they serve as providers, ATMs, or, if the stars align, occasional jesters in the family court.

Sure, we’ve got the “tryouts dad” who’ll excitedly demonstrate how to hit a ball, be it cricket or baseball, like it’s the World Cup. Then there's the dad who plays Barbie with the precision of a hairstylist, the diaper-changing dad who deserves a medal, the car-pooling dad navigating like a seasoned Uber driver, the dad who mollycoddles his little (and older) princesses (yes, it’s a bit sexist, but let’s not pretend it doesn’t happen), the dad who just sort of hangs around, the dad who orchestrates holiday road trips, and the dad who plans holidays six months in advance like he's coordinating a military operation.

But where, oh where, is the “trad dad”?

The “traditional dad,” and no, this isn’t a teary-eyed tribute to the authoritarian fathers of the 60s (or the swinging 70s, and the confused 80s).

We’re talking about a dad who calls a spade a spade, who isn’t starring in Instagram memes and cartoons, who doesn’t need a GPS to navigate his kid’s school grades. Not the guilt-ridden Santa Claus who undoes mum’s hard work and leaves the kids in a swirling vortex of confusion (and a remotely strong identity crisis too).

No, the trad dad is a creature altogether different.

He’s the dad who says, “Apologise to your mum, you little terror,” the dad who teaches his kids to stand on their own two feet, to be resilient, and who instills a sense of responsibility and integrity that’s harder to find than Wi-Fi in the wilderness.

The Helicopter Mum vs. The Trad Dad

Helicopter mums buzz around incessantly, their eyes and ears in perpetual motion, ensuring that little Rahul doesn’t so much as stub his toe. Trad dads, on the other hand, watch little Rahul scale that tree, fall, and get back up. They know that a bit of rough and tumble builds character, that resilience isn’t forged under a watchful eye but through scraped knees and muddy hands.

The Guilt-Ridden Dad vs. The Trad Dad

There’s nothing worse than the guilt-ridden dad who, feeling he’s been an absentee father, tries to compensate by drowning his kids in gifts and letting them rule the roost. The result? Spoilt little tyrants who think the world owes them a living. Trad dads see through this nonsense.

They know that real love isn’t about indulgence; it’s about setting boundaries, teaching respect, and making sure their offspring grow up with a balanced sense of self, not a sense of entitlement.

The Instagram Dad vs. The Trad Dad

We’ve all seen the Instagram dads—the ones who pose perfectly with their kids, curating a fatherhood fantasy for likes and shares. While capturing moments isn’t inherently bad, the trad dad isn’t in it for the gram.

He’s about presence, not performance.

He’s there for the unfiltered moments, the tough talks, the discipline, and the encouragement that doesn’t get a hashtag but forms the backbone of genuine parenting.

The Comeback of the Trad Dad

Why do we desperately need the trad dad to make a triumphant return? Because modern parenting is a circus, and we’ve lost our balance. In trying to be everything for their children, mums often end up frazzled, and dads, unsure of their roles, either disappear into the background or overcompensate.

The trad dad is the equilibrium, the anchor in the storm, the voice of reason amidst the chaos.

What Makes a Trad Dad?

A trad dad isn’t defined by a checklist but by a philosophy. He believes in respect—respect for oneself, for others, and for life’s challenges. He leads by example, showing his kids what it means to be a person of integrity. He’s not afraid to lay down the law, knowing that boundaries are as essential as love. He’s a partner in parenting, working hand in hand with mum to present a united front that provides stability and security.

So, all in all…

In a world where parenting styles are as diverse as the families they shape, the trad dad stands out not because he’s flashy or indulgent but because he’s steadfast and sincere. He’s the dad who isn’t afraid to be the adult in the room, who understands that raising children isn’t about winning popularity contests but about preparing them for the real world. So here’s to the trad dads—may their tribe increase, and may their wisdom continue to guide us all through the rollercoaster that is parenting.

What kind of a parent / dad are you ? What kind of dad did you have?

Let me know in the comments below..

Till next time,

Cheers

Kalyani