3 Things Every Intentional Dad Should Start Doing Right Now
3 Things Every Intentional Dad Should Start Doing Right Now
Being an intentional father is not always an easy task, yet it is one of the most important things you can do as a parent. Here are 3 things you can start doing today to become a more intentional father to your kids.
1. Start affirming them, before critiquing them.
Truett Cathy, Founder of Chick-fil-A, said it best: “How do you know if someone needs encouragement? If they’re breathing.” There may not be a better quote that captures the value that encouragement plays in all of our lives. It’s importance cannot be overstated.
This is especially true in our homes. The words you speak into your child’s life will be a shaping force in who they become.
Consider the words you speak to your children. Do you start by critiquing them, or affirming them? Certainly there is a place for critique and discipline, but don’t miss the opportunity to encourage and affirm them on a daily basis.
2. Start putting the conversation above the discipline.
A young man’s middle school years will be filled with plenty of mistakes. It’s possible that some of these mistakes could, if continued, form dangerous habits down the road. But rather than enforcing strict discipline, we recommend doing something even more effective — prioritize teaching over condemnation.
Middle school expert Tom Shefchunas says to “put the conversation above the discipline.” In other words, loving your child for who he or she is, not for what he does. At Champion Tribes we have a saying for this: we want to see sons living from their father’s affirmation, rather than for their affirmation.
As a dad, you ought to care deeply about the choices your child makes, but also see those mistakes as an opportunity to help shape and invest in his or her life.
3. Start making the most of the small moments.
At Champion Tribes, we are all about creating big, special moments. We call these “milestone moments.” Moments that mark your life in ways you will never forget. Graduations, retirements, weddings, etc. The Champion Tribes journey in itself is a rite of passage experience that is meant to create a milestone moment in the life of your child as they transition into the teenage years.
Big moments matter, but so do the small moments. It’s easy to recognize the importance of big moments, but how do you view the small ones?
How do you use the time you have with your kid when you are in the car together? What about at the dinner table? What about right before bedtime?
Don’t overlook these everyday moments. The conversations you create with your son can be just as important as the big, flashy moments of life. The trick is to embrace both the big and the small.
Embrace the mountaintops, but don’t forget about the 1,000 little steps in between.