Nov 26, 2021Member-onlyMicromanaging or how not to get your kids to do what you wantIt’s called over parenting. None of us want to do it, we want our children to be confident, capable, self-sufficient, responsible people. But life’s busy and things are easier if they’re controlled and predictable, so we try to micromanage them. …Parenting3 min readParenting3 min read
Oct 14, 2021Member-onlyNot wanting to go to schoolAt some point, every parent faces this resistance. We had it this week with one of our boys. He’s having a tough time because his normal group of friends have stopped playing with him. He’s in the playground reading by himself. The first feeling this created for me was sadness…Parenting Advice2 min readParenting Advice2 min read
Apr 30, 2021Member-onlyNaggy dad, maybe that’s actually a good thing.My kids are now 9 & 12. A few days ago my eldest told me I was ‘less naggy’ than I used to be. Is it true? I don’t know and it doesn’t matter because it’s true to my son, and he matters. Did it hurt? Yes. I never wanted…Family3 min readFamily3 min read
Apr 3, 2021Member-onlyHow to set your expectations of your kids at the right level.I did another podcast interview this week. With Matt. In it we discussed how we set our expectations for our children. We agreed we didn’t want to set the bar too low, doing things for them they can do themselves and robbing them of the ability to look after themselves…Parenting2 min readParenting2 min read
Jan 29, 2021Member-onlyHow this dad’s finding ways to cope with COVID lockdownRising COVID in Europe, UK lockdown that looks set to last and the US attempted coup. Stressful times that will sap your patience, suck you into social media, make you stay up later than is good, sleep worse, and take your attention away from your children. That’s what’s happened to…Parenting3 min readParenting3 min read
Published inThe Shadow·Jan 28, 2021Member-onlyHow lockdown parenting can help us build a stronger relationshipI’m writing this at 6:20am on a Friday in January 2021, before anyone else is up. I realised on my way downstairs, as I passed his room, how proud I am of my eldest son. …Parenting4 min readParenting4 min read
Jan 24, 2021Member-onlyParents, it’s fucking hard right now, but we’ve got this. Here’s why.What with Biden in and Trump out, and various vaccines making their way into the veins of many millions, it feels like maybe, just maybe, it’s time to start looking forward a bit further ahead in life. It feels like when you’re out in nature, on a long walk, and…Parenting3 min readParenting3 min read
Jan 16, 2021Member-onlyCoping with parenting in lockdownRising COVID in Europe, UK lockdown that looks set to last and the US attempted coup. Stressful times that will sap your patience, suck you into social media, make you stay up later than is good, sleep worse, and take your attention away from your children. That’s what’s happened to…Parenting3 min readParenting3 min read
Jan 16, 2021Member-onlySeeing gaps and choosing struggles of fatherhoodI don’t know about you, but for me, everything feels so bloody hard at the moment. Lockdown, governmental madness (unless you’re in NZ, lucky you), WFH, shorter days, longer nights and no end in sight. But, but, but, but. BUT. Like my old rugby coach used to say, if you…Fatherhood3 min readFatherhood3 min read
Dec 6, 2020Member-onlyLearning lessonsBar breathing, very few things come naturally, without effort. Our children teach us that. We get to see up close that everything needs to be learned — to roll over, eat, walk, talk — everything. It’s a steady structural construction. We learn how to pull ourselves up before we can…Life4 min readLife4 min read
