I'm with you on most of those. It's inevitable that you will experience a wide range of emotions in dealing with your kids.

I've actually got my wife to stop taking the kids to McDonalds, though.

I think the biggest changes in my own behavior from one child to two and now three has got to be me ability to anticipate and control a situation. A feat of juggling the likes which you would have never imagined prior. Believe it or not, I have my dog to thank for preparing me for such unknown situations.

For those of you who have dogs, and possibly kids, teach the dog to walk without a leash in a busy area. You will get constant practice in how to approach potentially tense situations.

Now when I'm with my kids, I'm more prepared mentally to deal with whatever they can dish out. A related tactic is to be more energetic/excited than your kids. If something trying and difficult is in your near future use your kids imagination to your advantage. Often times in the Grocery store I'll take the older kids on a secret mission, sneaking through isles to go get an intentionally, well more often unintentionally, forgotten item. Just be warned, if you come up with too good of a game or character, you'll probably get asked to do it over and over again. Milk it for all it's worth, even if it is annoying after the thirty-second time.

Being a dad is a just big chess match you need to constantly be thinking ahead anticipating what should happen, but being ready for the unimaginable.