Do Something With Your Kids

Sometimes it's hard to know where to start. If you're like me, you have grand visions of what it takes to be a good dad. You want to provide stability, teach your kids important lessons, and do "big" things to impact them and others. Those are noble goals.

However, I think it is easy to overlook the impact of the small things. Thinking back on my childhood, I don't know that I can remember many serious conversations I had with my dad before the age of thirteen. I do remember the camping, the hikes, the game nights, and the Saturday afternoon projects.

Perhaps your kids beg you to play or to go to the park, and you think you don't have time. You think it will be better later when you're not so tired or so busy. Good luck. You will probably be tired and busy until your kids are grown.

Just do something with your kids. If your two year old wants to dance in the living room to the ABCs or Little Einstein's, you don't need to block off a half hour on your calendar. Just do it. When you get home from work and the weather is nice, take the kids to the park. The activity is not as important as the attention.

If your kids are older, do something they enjoy. You may have no interest in horseback riding or Rubik's cube conventions. But if you take a little bit of time and money and surprise you kids with something they'll enjoy, I guarantee you that will impact them.

Kids, especially younger ones, don't have the capacity to understand how your work, and budgeting, and daily chores are structured to provide them with stability. You might be thinking, "Of course I love my kids, and they know it. Look at how much money I spend to feed them, and how much work it is to take care of them." But to a two year old (or a twelve year old), that doesn't mean as much to them as a little bit of time with dad.

So go do something with your kids. Put your phone away. Turn off the podcasts. Hug your kids and take them to do something fun today.