I think it’s very important. I always looked up to my father and he did his damned best to be there at everything important and also took what spare time he had to coach sports or take me hunting during season etc.
I try to do the same for my kids and show that both men and women should have a hand in raising their children.
Role models for men can be found all over if your child participates in activities out of the house. Church leaders, coaches, teachers, community center personnel, neighbors and of course other family members. Not just fathers.
I sense you want a manly man type mentor, but you already have interest in the manly arts (I assume you work on cars, since you mentioned ChrisFix, and lift weight given you are posting on T-Nation). Perhaps you don’t need a mentor strong in these areas since you already are drawn to them?
I’ve had my perspective change as I’ve gotten older. Some of the things I learned from my dad, I didn’t really appreciate much several years ago. He is into gardening, flea markets, collecting rocks… I am into lifting, cars, sports… I thought he wasn’t into anything cool or manly. I now see him as the strongest person I know. The period of time that I was growing up was much harder than average for him as a father and husband. My brother is severely disabled and violent. He was active in raising both of us, while working full time. My brother would be up often all night screaming and pounding on the walls. Many weeks he would get only a few hours of sleep. He mentions falling asleep on the toilet at work during that period. He would still come home and help me with homework. My mother got cancer twice (almost died the second time). He had to take over almost all the house work and child care. Never complained once. He is and was affectionate to my mother through all of it.
