It's A Dad's Life

Today we speak with Dr Teresa Belton whose article "Want to be a great parent? Let your children be bored" has gone viral on social media.  Dr Teresa has also written a book "Happier people, happier planet", and she talks about why kids need down time in their lives.  Hers is a voice of reason in the often hyper-scheduled lives of kids.  There are also some important take-aways for us as dads.  Put down the screens, let your mind wander and wonder.  Find the links to Dr Belton's work at www.itsadadslife.net/ep005

We've been looking at how to get a better handle on our time and where it goes.  This week I share some lessons I've learned from 2 other authors to help construct an "ideal week" framework that ensures I make time for what matters most.  Episode 004 also includes a show notes page which can be accessed at http://itsadadslife.net/episode004.  There you can access an example to use as a template in putting first things first in your own weekly routine.

Life is busy.  The world is busy.  Families are busy.  We get it.  How do we keep our commitments and still be present for our kids?  Today I share 4 key routines that others have shared with me over the years.  These 4 routines keep family life vibrant and alive even in busy seasons, and give a structure to return to even when everything has been derailed.

What defines the shift from a boy to a man? Many cultures have definitive moments a child works toward that mark the transition to adulthood.  Today I catch up with Hamilton McNicol, the state youth coordinator at Scripture Union, to talk about the importance of rites of passage.  We discuss the elements of a meaningful rite of passage, and how our modern society has missed some of these vital elements that give a boy the confidence to be a man.  A though provoking conversation for fathers of boys.

Brad is a brand new dad, his new daughter is only a week old.  Bradyn has 3 kids and one more on the way.  We reflect on the journey of fatherhood from that first day when the first child arrives, to the unfolding adventure of watching them grow and even how things change when more kids come along.  Brad and Bradyn share the challenges they see on the horizon, and we chat through how their faith informs the way they are meeting those challenges.

Hello fellow dads!  Learn what "It's a Dad's Life" is all about in this short, introductory welcome.