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.

Take them seriously.

Sometimes just a title, just a concept can be enough.

Wherever you go, wherever you go, there you are, is a great book and a great mantra.

The obstacle is the way and ego is the enemy.

We're intended to have a similar effect.

Even if you don't crack the covers, just the concept is enough to provide a little guidance.

There's an interesting parenting philosophy whose name also does this.

Maybe you've heard of it.

Maybe you disagree with most of its teachings.

But the name itself is a helpful and broad reminder worth thinking about today.

It's called take children seriously.

Again, you can take or leave the specifics,

and just as you might take or leave the ideas in Montessori or aware parenting,

but there is something that ought to stick with everyone about taking children seriously.

Because being a parent is serious business, and your children are serious people.

Yes, they are silly and ridiculous

little people, but they are people. And much of what we have written here and in the Daily Dad book,

you can get signed copies at store.dailydad.com, are built around this premise, the idea of not

treating your kids like a doll, the idea of encouraging them to make their own decisions, the idea of helping them

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