Incredible reminder. And beautiful honesty about how we (dads) may realize we are being reactive in the moment and have the OPPORTUNITY to change course in an instant, or for the night.
Loved this. I don't have kids, alas, and at 72, I probably won't this lifetime. Your essay made me feel the angst and beauty of being a parent. What a lovely gift you've given the world.
It’s amazing how often I would go to other peoples houses, see the mess, know they had kids and laugh off their apologies—
Yet I get overwhelmed in my own home, with my own kids, being kids.
But that’s why I wrote something today about my recent feelings over it—with just being able to give my kids “10 minutes” here and “10 minutes” there throughout a day.
This hit home hard. I Read the paragraph where you said “asshole dad” and I was like welp that’s me! I feel like I get way more frustrated than my wife and a lot quicker. Trying to get the kids to bed and yet my two boys are making a mess or bickering but then in an instant giggling over the smallest thing or horsing around in their bed together as if it isn’t 9 PM. And yes it is summer so I try but there is also a part of me that is fighting the urge to get them down so I have an hour to workout before I pack and get stuff ready for work the next day! Anyways glad I am not alone in this #dadlife
I love my two boys and want them to enjoy life as kids because we don’t know what to expect when they grow up. This dad just hopes they remember a fun childhood like mine was for me.
Thanks for the reminder to not care about the mess. Let's let them build, destroy, explore, and use empty Amazon boxes and pretend it's a house, ship, boat, or rocket.
With that said, we started using a reward jar and started to see how cleaning up can also be a good lesson and fun game with the kids. I think it's good for them to own their own mess and clean it up so the next day, they can build something else and find their toys easily.
There's definitely a balance though. The question is, what is that balance. Living in the tension of, "leave the mess" and "it's time to clean up" is real!
Great reminder to throw my phone 10 feet away! And kudos to your son for calling you out! The fact that he feels safe to do that reflects your fatherhood. Good job!
Incredible reminder. And beautiful honesty about how we (dads) may realize we are being reactive in the moment and have the OPPORTUNITY to change course in an instant, or for the night.
Loved this. I don't have kids, alas, and at 72, I probably won't this lifetime. Your essay made me feel the angst and beauty of being a parent. What a lovely gift you've given the world.
Wow thank you ♥️
It’s amazing how often I would go to other peoples houses, see the mess, know they had kids and laugh off their apologies—
Yet I get overwhelmed in my own home, with my own kids, being kids.
But that’s why I wrote something today about my recent feelings over it—with just being able to give my kids “10 minutes” here and “10 minutes” there throughout a day.
Good article! 👍🏻
Bring the mess. I love the mess, it can be clean later.
You're a good dad, Dad.
Hi,
This hit home hard. I Read the paragraph where you said “asshole dad” and I was like welp that’s me! I feel like I get way more frustrated than my wife and a lot quicker. Trying to get the kids to bed and yet my two boys are making a mess or bickering but then in an instant giggling over the smallest thing or horsing around in their bed together as if it isn’t 9 PM. And yes it is summer so I try but there is also a part of me that is fighting the urge to get them down so I have an hour to workout before I pack and get stuff ready for work the next day! Anyways glad I am not alone in this #dadlife
I love my two boys and want them to enjoy life as kids because we don’t know what to expect when they grow up. This dad just hopes they remember a fun childhood like mine was for me.
Thanks for the reminder to not care about the mess. Let's let them build, destroy, explore, and use empty Amazon boxes and pretend it's a house, ship, boat, or rocket.
With that said, we started using a reward jar and started to see how cleaning up can also be a good lesson and fun game with the kids. I think it's good for them to own their own mess and clean it up so the next day, they can build something else and find their toys easily.
There's definitely a balance though. The question is, what is that balance. Living in the tension of, "leave the mess" and "it's time to clean up" is real!
Great reminder to throw my phone 10 feet away! And kudos to your son for calling you out! The fact that he feels safe to do that reflects your fatherhood. Good job!