Welcome to the Daily Dad podcast where we provide one lesson every day to help you with your most important job being a dad.

These are lessons inspired by ancient philosophy, by practical wisdom, and insights from dads all over the world.

Thank you for listening, and we hope this helps.

This makes it harder.

You got frustrated because they were being annoying, because you already told them, because they know

they're not supposed to hurt their brother like that. But why was your temper so short in the first

place? And why were they even in a position to hurt their sibling? Because you weren't paying

attention. You were multitasking, checking your email, trying to talk to someone, trying to do something that

quite honestly could have easily waited until later, whether it was five hours or five minutes.

And this parenting thing is really hard. It demands so much from us, emotionally and physically,

but nothing makes it harder than trying to do something else at the same time.

And when we are present, when we are actually just there giving them our full attention, playing whatever silly game they want to play

as if it wasn't ridiculous, well, nothing makes parenting easier or more fulfilling. Sometimes your kids

bother you as a test. Sometimes they just want to see if you're paying attention, if you're listening.

Sometimes they act out because they know you're not.

So stop.

Put the phone down.

Decide with your spouse to circle back to this conversation later.

Do that house project later.

Now is now.

It's a moment as good as any to make the most of to be a good parenting,

to be present for. Thanks for listening to The Daily Dad podcast. We would love it if you could

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