There is a strange balance we walk as fathers. We want to raise honest, thoughtful kids, but we also spend so much energy shielding them from things they are not ready for. It becomes a constant question of when to integrate them into the harder parts of life and when to protect their peace. Last night reminded me of that balance. Nothing dramatic happened. I was simply overstimulated after a long workday. My son wanted a fun evening with his dad. I wanted that too… but my nerves were shot. I was tapped out. Instead of snapping, I tried being honest with him in the simplest way I could. I told him, Daddy might yell right now. I just need a second. He definitely didn’t understand the full picture, but he understood the signal. He gave me that moment. And I realised that some truths can be shared earlier than I thought. Not the heavy stuff…not the marriage worries or money stress or the avalanche of adult concerns. But a small truth he could hold. Our kids are smarter than we give them credit for. They want to be part of our team if we treat them like they are already on it. And they need so much from us. Sometimes more than we feel we have to give. That part is hard. That part stretches us. But last night reminded me that honesty, even in small doses, can be a gift for them and for us. It keeps the connection intact. It keeps us human. It keeps them included in a way they can actually handle. That might be the hardest part of being a good father… knowing when to protect and when to let them in. No questions today Boys. I just wanted to share. I made this group for us to learn from each other and get things off my chest. Thanks for joining me.

Is it magical for you or stressful? I was going to write a big thing on the topic but I wanted to know your thoughts first.

It was 100% better than the nothing I'd been doing before. I haven't moved this body through a proper workout in too damn long. How am I meant to talk about the framework of Train Daily if I'm not training ever?! I realize that Training Daily isn't about the quality but the consistency. The discipline of it. If I went too hard today to prove a point I'd have shot myself in the foot for tomorrow. So I did what could have been a warm up for Pre-Pandemic Matt. But I did it. What about you all? Anyone do any moving today? A Walk, maybe? 30 Reps of lifting your kid in the air as they yell "Again!" Anything?

Has there been a project/ business/ idea that you’ve wanted to work on but held off on for “good reason”?

Morning Fathers, I've been thinking about something I'd written in the mission of this community. Whether or not we'd ever thought about fatherhood prior to having kids I'd bet we'd either had big vision for our life or big plans for the type of dad we'd be for our kids. I know I get caught up in doing all the things I have to do for my son to have a roof over his head, food in his belly and a story at bedtime. I don't think a bad dad by any means but I'm not the dad I want to be for him. I want him to look at me and see what's possible with hard work and clear vision. That's what made me realize that my dreams are no long things I want to do. They're things I HAVE to do. Not because I want him to be spoiled by things but to be spoiled by choice. Not because I haven't made a good life for my family but to make the life I'd envisioned for them. Your dreams aren't something that need abandoning. Focus, clarity and effort. What's your dream?