An Important Rule for Dads

5 snips

Dec 2, 2019

Discover the essential wisdom from economist Russ Roberts about parenting. He highlights a simple yet profound rule for dads: whenever your child reaches out for your hand, take it. This moment of connection is precious and fleeting. Embrace those opportunities to bond, despite the challenges of growing independence. Family life is an ongoing balance of reaching out and letting go. Even in moments of frustration, valuing these interactions can create lasting memories and strengthen relationships.

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ADVICE

Hold Their Hand

Always hold your child's hand when they offer it.
Cherish these moments of connection, even if you're tired.

INSIGHT

The Dance of Connection

Relationships involve a natural push and pull dynamic.
Children seek independence, but also connection.

ADVICE

Be Present

Be present and available for your children.
Answer their calls, listen to their stories, and embrace opportunities for connection.

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The economist Russ Roberts is a guy who understands how the world works. He knows about the laws of the economy and government. He knows about philosophy and he knows about history. He lives his life by a number of rules and rituals. He keeps Shabbat, for instance, and he commits to regularly tithing a portion of his income. He has another rule, specifically for dads, that is worth thinking about today:

If your child offers you a hand to hold, take it

The preciousness of childhood, the preciousness of this day, today, this moment when your child wants your hand for comfort can be hard to appreciate in the moment. You might be tired. Or just tired of holding your child’s hand. Take it anyway. As they get older, they assert their independence. That’s good. But in the meanwhile, hold their hand, take care of them with an open heart. And when they ask to hear Curious George for the nth time, read it again as if it were the first.

Life and relationships are an endless dance of reaching out and pulling away. You reach out to your kids, they pull away—they’re busy, they’re in front of their friends, they’re mad at you. You try to help them and they don’t want it. You want what’s best for them but they don’t understand.

We can’t control that. It’s going to hurt sometimes. Signals will get crossed. It’s heartbreaking but it’s part of growing up. What we can control is that whenever they reach out—whenever they offer us a hand to hold—that we take that opportunity. When they want to lay in our bed with us, we can let them. When they call on the phone, we can answer—even if we’re in a meeting. When they ask to talk about something, we can listen, whatever it’s about. We can hold them tight every chance we have.

We need to make a rule of it.

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