In Harper Lee's novel, To Kill a Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is a lawyer, a single father, and a highly respected man in Maycomb County. The most important of these roles, however, is that of being the single father of Jem and Scout Finch. His mentorship and kind words are always there when kids want them and sometimes even when they don't. He is able to guide children with a firm but gentle hand, protects them from danger but does not protect them, and teaches his children the hard lessons of life. Atticus is a model citizen and a model father, but to his children he is almost more of a friend than a father. He is someone they can turn to in difficult times or in moments of happiness. He is their ever faithful friend and an ever faithful father. The first thing that makes Atticus a good father is his ability to comfort children in their moments of confusion or frustration. This is shown in the novel when Scout is angry because she was in trouble for making fun of Walter Cunningham's eating habits. This is what Atticus tells Scout: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view...until you get under his skin and walk around in it." He's trying to explain to Scout that even if someone is different than you or does different things than you, you can't judge them or dismiss them because they are still human beings just like you. For Scout, this means she can't make fun of Walter Cunningham for being different because she has no idea what he's been through and why he is the way he is. She knows he is poor, but she doesn't know much about his life other than that he lives on a farm and can't go to school in the spring. This display of wisdom and kindness from… middle of paper… hem. He is a father who wants to be involved in his children's lives and wants them to know that he will always be by their side in whatever they decide to do. Atticus will never pass up an opportunity to talk to his children, especially if he can get a teaching moment out of it. His advice is a welcome part of the children's lives, and despite his fatherly wisdom, they still consider him a friend. While it seems to some that Atticus doesn't know much about parenting, there are lessons we could all learn from him. He believes that children have great capacities to live, learn and love and treats them with this belief in mind. It doesn't sugarcoat the truth or try to coddle children. He treats them with kindness, but also uses firm discipline when necessary. He is a great father who understands his children better than most and should be respected for that.