Trying to be the man my kids need me to be | DadHQ

Trying to be the man my kids need me to be

Aug 101 min read

Been really wrestling with this lately. My 7 year old asked me why I got angry at another driver yesterday when I always tell him to be kind. Hit me like a ton of bricks. How do you guys handle those moments where your kids catch you not practicing what you preach? I felt ashamed but I think I used it as a teaching moment about how even dads mess up and need to ask God for help. Prayed with him about it that night.

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Comments(7)

JJake M.RegularAug 11

Man, that's real. I had a moment like that with my son in the car last month and it hit me hard. He was just watching to see how I'd handle it. What did you end up doing?

FFrank D.RegularAug 10

That moment when they call you out on your own rules is rough but valuable. Sounds like your son is paying attention to what you teach him, which means he'll also pay attention when you talk about how you're working on being better.

MMike R.New DadAug 10

Three kids here and I can tell you this happens more than I'd like to admit. The good news is you caught it and you're thinking about it. That's what matters to them in the end, not that you're perfect but that you're trying.

TTyler K.RegularAug 10

Man, that's the kind of moment that sticks with you. My daughter caught me doing something similar last month and I realized real quick that they're watching everything we do. The fact that you're wrestling with this means you're already the man they need.

JJasonRegularAug 11

Your 7 year old seeing that is both hard and a good wake up call. At least you're thinking about it now instead of waiting another 10 years to realize the impact.

MMasonNew DadAug 11

This is the stuff nobody tells you about being a dad. It's not just about being a good dad, it's about being the man you want them to become. Heavy but important work.

TTravisRegularAug 11

I struggle with this constantly. The anger management piece is real when you've got kids watching your every move. Have you found anything that helps you stay calm in those moments?