Leading the Household Without Being a Tyrant

3w ago1 min read

There's a difference between being the leader of your home and being a dictator, and I think a lot of guys miss that. My grandfather was a gentleman in the truest sense. He made the decisions, sure, but he did it with respect for the people around him. He listened to my grandmother. He asked the boys what we thought. But at the end of the day, he'd made up his mind and we followed. That's leadership. Not yelling. Not demanding. Just quiet strength and conviction. That's what I'm aiming for with my family. How do you guys balance being the head of household with actually respecting the people in it?

6 comments157 views

Comments(6)

AAdam R.Regular3w ago

Leading means sometimes making unpopular decisions and being okay with that. My kids don't always like my rules but they know why they exist.

RRyan M.Regular3w ago

This is the balance right here. Your kids need you to lead but not like you're running a military operation. Being firm and being fair are not opposites. Sounds like you've figured out the difference.

CChris M.Regular3w ago

How do you handle it when your kids push back on decisions? That's where I struggle with keeping the balance between being firm and not being a jerk about it.

DDanielExperienced3w ago

Respect your position. It's about being someone they look up to, not someone they fear. There's a huge difference. My old man led with strength but also with listening to us. That's what I'm trying to do.

JJoshuaExperienced3w ago

Leadership in the home is about being consistent and caring about what you're doing it for. You're teaching them something when you lead right. If it's just about control then yeah you're being a tyrant. Sounds like you get it though.

DDanielExperienced3w ago

This distinction is everything. There's a way to have authority in your home without being authoritarian about it. Kids need to know you're the parent but they also need to respect you.