The Daily Dad You Just Made That Up
Jan 20, 2026
Parents often make countless faulty assumptions that lead to unnecessary anxiety. Emphasizing the importance of pausing, the discussion highlights how a brief reflection can clarify real issues versus imagined worries. Misbehavior in children is reframed, encouraging parents to consider underlying causes like hunger or illness, rather than jumping to negative conclusions. The use of a Stoic medallion serves as a practical reminder to create that crucial space, making parenting a little easier and more thoughtful.
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Most Parental Worries Are Made Up
- Parents constantly invent causal links between events that increase anxiety and suffering.
- Pausing and examining those assumptions reveals most worry is self-inflicted and unnecessary.
Danger Of 'If This, Then That' Reasoning
- Parents default to 'if this, then that' reasoning that fuels worry.
- That causal shorthand often lacks evidence and leads to unnecessary stress.
Single Events Don't Determine Futures
- Small negative incidents rarely determine long-term outcomes for children or careers.
- Reframing events as isolated or circumstantial reduces catastrophic thinking.