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.

These experiences are both cheap and rich.

The pressure to do is one that rests heavy on all parents.

We plan that big family vacation to Disneyland.

We put everyone in the car and drive like a madman through traffic to make it to that special dinner on time.

We put everyone in their least comfortable clothes and pose for that awkward photo.

Dance recitals, New Year's Eve parties, the pumpkin patch, cakewalks, parades,

fundraisers.

Why are we doing this, kids will sometimes ask?

And the answer is always something like, because we're a family, this is what families do.

But it's worth remembering that you can just be a family anytime, anywhere.

That's what Jerry Seinfeld was talking about when he compared quality time and garbage time.

It's perfectly fine just to sit on the couch and be a family, you know.

You don't have to get dressed up or plan some complicated outing.

Being a parent is not only what is well captured in Instagram photos.

It's also hanging out.

It's just sitting in the car, eating fries from McDonald's together.

It's also kicking a soccer ball in the backyard.

It's going for a run together, putting together Legos with the youngest while mom and the older kids watch TV.

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