They won’t listen to you but they will become you.
Hearing this makes me feel both better and worse. This week I noticed that every time I repeat myself, the empathy drains out of my voice. Maybe I need to get closer, whisper, and use fewer words. One parenting book suggested saying “shoes” instead of launching into a long explanation—and even giving kids the chance to realize it themselves.
Try this: Pick one behavior that matters and practice it. Want them to say thank you? Say it to them. Want good restaurant behavior? Do a mock run at home. Don’t expect in public what you haven’t practiced in private. It might be messy, but they’ll learn each time.
Takeaway: Practice what matters and model what you want to see.
Try this: Ask them to play, don’t wait on them to ask.
Play Clue or Uno. Build a fort. Spend 10–15 minutes a day giving each kid your full attention. If you’re having fun, they will too.
Ideas:
Set up an indoor tent.
Make a snack together.
Draw the dog and compare.
Cook This: Pasta sauce with lentils and roasted vegetables
This recipe is simple and an easy way to add more veggies to a meal for you and your kids. The author of this recipe also has a picky eater app if you’re into that sort of thing. My son ate 3 bowls of this on Tuesday and hasn’t eaten much since.
Dad Fun - Old man stretches
I’m not going to let this stretch, mobility thing go. None of us realize how much sitting and doing work on the computer is affecting our posture and flexibility, even if you do go to the gym. Watch this. Try do something in small bites in a way that you can repeat more often. Everything counts.
Try this: stretch for one minute after every call or meeting. Get out of your chair whenever you can. Do a quick stretch when you wake up and before bed. Everything counts.bed.
Dad Magic: Bake
You need to get good at making one kind of muffin that your kids like. Just one. You will make some real stinkers along the way. Make them with your kids, let them do most if not all of it. Even crack the eggs. Mess = Learning. Yummy Toddler Foods has some good one but try the Super Hero muffins too.
Check this out: Super Hero Muffins
This newsletter is not professional in nature but intended to be real things to try. They won’t all work but this is a process and I’d love for you to join me on the way. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you next week.
Send this to a dad that needs to get his Sh&# together.
Send me a note or your best dad joke @ [email protected]