If you subscribed to this, you think about being a good father.
Probably a lot.
Our little girl just turned two and, combined with the pregnancy period, it’s been close to three years that I’ve been thinking about:
- What kind of dad I want to be
- What I want to teach my little girl
- What lessons to pass on
- Which habits to form (and which to break)
It can be overwhelming at times.
Then, one morning when she was fully taken care of—dressed for school, food served, car warmed, medicine administered—it hit me.
Stop looking at myself through my own eyes.
Instead, look at my actions through my daughter’s eyes.
At the end of the day, she doesn’t care that I lay my clothes out every night so I can pop out of bed in the morning and be ready at a moment’s notice.
She doesn’t care that I take diligent notes at the doctor or that I researched our daycare’s teaching philosophy.
She cares that I’m there.
That she feels safe.
That I pay attention when she’s excited.
Those are the things she’s going to remember for the rest of her life.
That is being a good dad.
The rest is stuff that just helps me do that.
QUOTABLE
“The unexamined life is not worth living.”
—Socrates
It’s a harsh thought, but I subscribe to it. If we aren’t working to be better, to do better—why are we even here?
RECOMMENDATION
My recommendation is an abstract one: give your energy to those who give theirs to your child.
Take care of your babysitters, your teachers, your neighbors. Go the extra mile to ask them how they’re doing, to give them small gifts, to make them feel appreciated.
We can’t do this alone. It’s very easy to forget that the people we pay or who are obligated to be in our kid’s life are still human.
Be human back.
SHAMELESS PLUG
Special thanks to Joey Cofone for today's issue!
He is the founder of Baronfig which makes some incredible tools to help you think and do.
His notebooks and pens are my ultimate favorites.
Joey also writes Eureka where you can get inspiration delivered to your inbox every week.
Thank you for supporting the 30 Days of Dads series.
If you enjoyed this issue, please forward it to a friend or send them to 30DaysofDads.com.
And remember...
Move your body.
Clear your mind.
Repeat.
Keep up the good work!
-KC
DAD JOKE
Q: Why don't scientists trust atoms?
A: Because they make up everything