A Hard Part of Being a Good Father
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 didnât 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 stuffâŚnot 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.