My Son Just Exposed My Biggest Parenting Mistakes (And It Was Powerful) | Dad Edge WINSday Member Spotlight

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May 21, 2025

Discover what it takes for teenagers to trust their parents in this candid Q&A. Hear strategies for bridging emotional gaps in marriage and creating psychological safety at home. Learn about the Experience Cube, a game-changing tool for resolving conflicts and enhancing communication. The importance of humor and openness in navigating tech rules is also emphasized. This powerful discussion showcases the vital role of vulnerability and self-care in deepening family connections and fostering meaningful conversations.

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ADVICE

Use the Experience Cube Method

Use the Experience Cube to guide difficult conversations with your wife.
State observations, own your thoughts, express feelings, and clearly say what you want to lower defenses and improve communication.

ADVICE

Collaborate on Tech Rules and Consequences

Create a collaborative technology agreement with your child that includes rules and consequences.
Ask your child what punishment they think is appropriate to foster ownership and respect for the rules.

ANECDOTE

Safe Car Talks Encourage Openness

Ethan appreciates the safe environment his dad creates for discussing mistakes.
Conversations in the car feel less confrontational and encourage openness.

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What does it really take for your teenager to trust you with everything? Are you creating a home where your wife feels truly safe to open up? Could a father-son conversation reveal the surprising answers?

Today I'm bringing you something truly special: a replay of one of the most meaningful live Q&A sessions I've ever recorded. This one goes way back to 2023, and I had my oldest son, Ethan, who was just 17 at the time (he's 19 now) join me, along with 35 awesome guys from The Dad Edge Alliance.

What made this conversation so powerful is that it was completely unscripted. Real questions, raw answers, and packed with the kind of gold you can only get from honest, open dialogue. Even though it was a live stream with our members, the themes we dove into are just as crucial today.

In this episode, you'll hear us tackle some major challenges that I know resonate with so many of you:

Connecting with Your Wife When She's Emotionally Distant: Real strategies for bridging that gap.
Creating Psychological Safety in Conversations: How to foster an environment where true communication can thrive.
Navigating Discipline Without Losing Connection with Your Kids: Ethan even chimes in with his perspective on this one!
The Power of the Experience Cube: We explore this incredible conflict resolution tool (originally taught by ClearLeadership.com) that's a game-changer for tough conversations with your wife, kids, and even at work.

But what truly blew me away during this Q&A was hearing, in his own words, what builds trust between Ethan and me. And spoiler alert: it's not about being the perfect dad. It's about something much more real: showing up, owning your mistakes, and spending genuine time together.

I'm not going to lie, you might even hear a little emotion in my voice when Ethan starts talking about this–it really hit home the importance of creating that safe space where our kids feel they can tell us anything.

So, whether you're a dad wanting to lead your family better, a husband striving for deeper connection, or just a man wanting to improve your relationships, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom. Sit back, relax, and get ready for some real talk that still rings true today.

This special "WINSday" edition is all about celebrating our members' successes and sharing the valuable lessons they've learned on their journey to becoming better dads. Sit back, tune in, and get ready to be motivated by the remarkable guests of the Dad Edge community.