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.

Never blame your kids.

In 2021, in the midst of a terrible storm that not only killed hundreds of Texans but left

millions without power, U.S. Senator Ted Cruz fled the state for the warmer weather of Mexico.

It was, of course, a shameful abdication of leadership and responsibility that surprised absolutely no one

who knows anything about Ted Cruz, especially members of his own party. If that wasn't enough,

Cruz would then break another cardinal rule of parenting. He threw his kids under the bus,

trying to make the whole thing sound like it was his young daughter's

idea. In fact, he and his wife had been planning it with neighbors on a text thread. And he did

this in the national media to try to protect himself from the heat he was very rightfully taking.

Of course, what parent hasn't used their kids as an excuse before? Sorry, we can't come next weekend. Susie has a soccer game. I think it's time we head out the kids are getting tired. Got to go, boss. I need to pick up my son. If you don't use your kids as a way of getting out of things, you're probably doing parenting wrong. Besides, most of the time, you're only doing it to get

out something you don't like in order to do more of something you love, spending time with your

family. But what is and remains permanently off limits is ever letting your kids take the fall

for something you did, especially in public. You are the adult. Your job is to protect your kids, not use them as a shield.

The weight you gained is your fault, not from them. The reason you've been snippy with your spouse is

your fault, not the kid's fault. The reason you're late is because you didn't get up early enough,

not that your daughter didn't want to eat her breakfast.

If anything, you take the hit for them, taking the criticism or to the Daily Dad podcast.

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