Daily Dad

You’re not doing your kids any favors by giving them everything they want. You’re not helping them by removing every difficulty and preventing all adversity. You’re not making their lives easier by fighting all their battles.

Creating a happy childhood for our kids is the whole point of what we’re trying to do here. Don’t second-guess yourself. Their lives should be good. Just remember that good is not the same as easy!

Will your children be affected by things that happen? By having to change teachers midyear because of a move? By having glasses? By a divorce? By their learning issues? Yes.

the goal is to raise kids who know how to figure things out. What does that mean? It means you have to let them figure things out.

Be Careful How Helpful You Are

We don’t have to solve our children’s problems for them. We don’t have to teach them how to memorize things. What we have to do is teach them how to help themselves. We have to show them that everything is figureoutable.

(1) their parents actually listened and cared; (2) curiosity is the starting point of a great adventure; and (3) there are places, like the library or the internet or some wise old neighbor, where answers can be found.

A great leader is never above rolling up their sleeves. Like a great parent, they’ll do anything for their family or their organization.

There is good in everything, if only we look for it.

The primary language of children is behavior. If you want to know what they're thinking or how they're feeling, watch what they do, not what they say.

Prepare them to make good decisions so they can make the best possible life for themselves.

Be kind to your family. Make sure they get the same patience and understanding as everyone else. Actually, scratch that. Make sure they get more.

As parents, we have to choose our responses wisely, not reflexively. We have to suspend judgement, listen, and think things over.

My wife and I, our whole job is to provide, to protect, to. love, to facilitate....It's to find out who our children are, find out their likes and their dislikes, and try to help them through life, to find themselves, It's not about us." -Dwyane Wade

"If I had one wish for my children, it would be that each of you would dare to do the things...that have meaning for you as individuals...but not worrying if you don't please everyone." -Lillian Carter

Your kids, your family, your loved ones... they deserve that. All your love...

When your kids feel a pull towards something creative or fulfilling, the worst thing you can do as a parent is prevent them from going in that direction.

Parenting is also about watching stupid videos. It’s playing peek-a-boo. It’s inside jokes and pranks. It’s hearing them walk through the front door from college. It’s when they tell you about their first love. This is completeness. This is the best thing ever.

Somebody always forgets to eat. So feed them. Ask them if they're hungry. Remind them that they're hungry. Keep a tight mean schedule. Watch what happens.

Whatever your children's ages, you have to be ready to make adjustments.