A Father, a Hero
A father is his children's hero—until he's not. The question isn't whether they turn out like him, but whether he shows them what a principled path looks like so they can forge their own.
In his book On Character, Stanley McChrystal writes: "As long as we reserve our identification of these very few who warrant serving as examples of who we hope and strive to be. A hero is not something we are, as much as something we strive to be. And whether we make it something left for history to decide."
I agree with this. But I also think: Isn't this what a father is to his children?
For our children—aside from certain exceptions—a father is their hero. Until he's not.
Sometimes that admiration persists. The parent conducts his life in a way that, although imperfect, the sum of his actions and the consistency of his character serve as a role model. Despite his flaws, a father remains a hero—not only when his children are small, but as they grow. He should strive to remain so. He sets the example and the path for his children to follow.
It's not about the children turning out like their father. It's about seeing the path their parents have taken, so they know what it looks like. That way, they can forge their own path while understanding where the boundaries are, what it means to have character, and what it means to be principled.