Michael Lohan’s Advice for Fathers on Father’s Day

Love him or hate him, there’s no denying that Michael Lohan has faced some supersized dad dilemmas in his day.  Say what you will, but the man definitely knows a few things about Xtreme parenting that most of us, thankfully, never will. Michael Lohan and his nuclear family meltdowns through the years are a cautionary tale for us all about how NOT to handle a troubled teen, particularly when she is a movie star with a full security contingent, a publicist, and your ex-wife is still on her payroll.  But a near-death experience that he says brought God into his life has made Michael Lohan reform his bad dad ways. Since then, Michael has made it his mission to share his parenting wisdom with other moms and dads and kids, who seem more willing and able to listen to him than his own family has been, on his talk radio show on ArmadaFM. Michael is also turning his dad skills into a premise for a reality show about a floating teen rehab unit, which he shot recently in Miami with Kim “G” Granatell, who knows a thing about family meltdowns after two seasons on Real Housewives of New Jersey. “Michael couldn’t do enough for those kids” Kim G said, reflecting on her time spent with the teens. “He talked about Lindsay, and shared his feelings about being a father and having a daughter in their situation.  He was calm and soft spoken, and spoke from the heart, and the kids were really listening.  He really did a great job with them.” So this father’s day I decided to turn to pop culture’s most famous and infamous pop, and asked Michael Lohan to share his five top tips for fathers, some of which we all know he had to learn the hard way.  

Michael Lohan’s Top 5 Tips for Fathers

1. Remember that being a dad is a 24/7 job from the day your kids are born until the day that you die, with no sick days, paid vacations, pension benefits, or exceptions to the rule.  Period.
2. You can make suggestions, give advice and lead by example but don’t tell your kids what to do. If you do, they will do exactly the opposite.  Take it from me, I know.
3. Your kids aren’t always going to like you.  Too bad.  Deal with it and stick to your guns.  Your kids need a father more than they need a friend.
4. Never, never, never, never give up on your kids or on yourself as a father.  You just have to keep trying, and keep the faith.
5. No matter what, stay involved in your kids’ lives.  Even if it means keeping the peace with your ex, or resisting the urge to unleash on your annoying brother-in-law.

  During Michael’s recent stint with Dr. Drew on Celebrity Rehab Season 5 (premiering Sunday, June 26^th at 9 p.m. ET/PT on VH1), he says that he had to come face to face with some of his demons that have prevented him from being the kind of father he would have liked to have been. He acknowledges that he feels responsible for many of the difficulties that his kids have had to face in life because of his mistakes. But Michael insists that he doesn’t let regrets and guilt over the past stop him from trying to be the best dad that he knows how to be right now. In this sense, he is not only a cautionary tale but an inspiring reminder that even though we are failing miserably at times, what’s most important is to be a parent who hangs in there and keeps trying to do the best job they can, come what may. I asked Michael if he had a father’s day message that he’d like to send out to dad’s everywhere. “Above everything else, no matter what, make sure your kids know that you love them,” he said. “Even if they act like they don’t want or need your love, trust me they do, no matter how grown up they are.” Happy Father’s Day to all the dads out there who try every day to reassure us that we are loved and to be the best dads that they can be, even Michael Lohan.