This episode is sponsored by Better Help. Welcome to the Daily Dad podcast where we provide one

lesson every single day to help you with your most important job, being a parent. I'm Ryan Holiday,

and I draw these lessons from ancient philosophy, modern psychology, practical wisdom, and insights

from parents just like you all over the world. Thank you for listening, and we hope this helps.

Sometimes it can feel like being a dad is just an endless series of errands.

It's the call from a bedroom that they need a glass of water.

It's the call from the college for you to come and take them shopping for something they need for their apartment.

It's the running around town getting soccer cleats or picking up concert tickets or bringing them homework they forgot.

This can be a little annoying, of course. Why didn't

you ask me this the last time I was here? Do you really need that? What happened to the last one?

But at the same time, it's also good to get them things, to be needed, to be of use. It's fun to give

presents to, but this is something deeper, something better.

That's what Hemingway said.

He said, when you're in love, you wish to serve.

It's Tom Hanks, too, with that question, what do you need me to do?

So don't get annoyed when you have to go and get them another snack or when you're refilling

their water that they didn't really need to be refilled anyway.

When you're fluffing a pillow or being asked to do a job that an Uber driver or a task

rabbit could do just as well, that's what being a dad is.

This is the job.

You like getting them things.

You're doing what they need.

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