Interesting take, based on my own life I would suggest the opposite: Dad is secure in his position and thus not vying for status. I enjoy saying silly stuff or

Interesting take, based on my own life I would suggest the opposite: Dad is secure in his position and thus not vying for status. I enjoy saying silly stuff or teasing my kids. Not for any tactical or strategic reason just to have a chance to joke with them. I expect if I was worried about social standing I would not say silly things. That I am "Dad" and cannot be fired means I am safe. For example: I feel super proud when my daughter tells _me_ what I am saying is silly and she tells me why. So much of parenting is about us telling our kids things, what to do, or why something happens. Saying silly things invites the kids to tell us stuff with their own authority.