Daddy Diatribes

A terrible (and incredibly minor) tragedy struck our family while in Texas. Thinking about the way I want my son to think, feel, and act when faced with frustrating situations actually helps me think, feel, and act more rationally in such circumstances.

It is important to reflect on the way we were parented and decide ahead of time the kind of parent we want to be because our default parenting methods will be imitations of our parents.

In this episode Jeremiah attempts to apply the concepts from past episodes to our own childhood. We deserved dignity, empathy, patience, respect, and understanding when we were kids as well.

No one is my superior. No one is my inferior. When everyone is your peer, it opens the opportunity for authentic relationship.

It's easy to blame others for our emotions, but we are responsible for the way we feel in response to an event or action. Especially with our own children.

I forced my kid into existence without his consent. He didn't choose it, and thus he has no positive obligations as it pertains to me. However, as one of the people who brought him into this world, I owe him everything he needs.

One common piece of parenting advice: "Kids will do what you do and not what you say." Putting this into practice is the hard part.

Sometimes things are less than ideal, different than expected, and inconvenient. These can be frustrating, disappointing, and empty. Or frustrating and beautiful.

We all have strong feelings of love for our children. These are delightful and helpful, but they are not love.

An inquiry new parents experience frequently. I suggest an analysis of its underpinnings reveal a poor way of evaluating the "goodness" of a child.