5 Things I’m Doing In 2023 To Crush Dadding
A new year is like a new pair of underwear. It doesn’t feel right until you’ve worn them in, if you know what I’m saying.
Here are 5 things I plan on making 2023 fit a little more comfortably as a dad:
1/ No Judgment January
No Judgment January is like dry January but with the alcohol (well, not exactly).
I’m committing for the next 30 days.
The commitment; is not to judge, blame or criticize my kids.
By approaching each scream, cry, yell, or fighting (you know, 2x4 over the head like Hacksaw Jim Duggan) as Sherlock Holmes, with complete curiosity, and without emotion.
So rather than immediately judging, blaming, or criticizing, I am looking to understand the feeling or emotion causing my child’s temporary lapse of judgment.
The goal is to be a calmer dad by being calmer in the most stressful situations with my kiddos.
So a 30-day commitment it is.
I hope that after 30 days, I’m not going to go back to judging, blaming, and criticizing because a good habit was formed by going hard for a short period.
Wish me luck.
2/ Learn something new
I found an Airbnb experience (renting an activity vs. a house) where I can learn to become a fun-ghi. There’s a lady locally that teaches mushroom foraging.
I already forage mushrooms (morels and puff balls) but want to ‘expand’ my mind. I’m just going for edible mushrooms, not psychedelic type…I don’t think.
It doesn’t matter what, but I feel like I’m growing when I'm learning.
3/ An expanded source of info.
I’m a podcast/YouTube junkie.
I get a dopamine hit from learning something new, but I listen to the same four or five.
I need to expand my horizon, so I’m searching for a new podcast.
Two I’m considering are:
Founders (https://founders.simplecast.com/) is one.
Have you seen a business biography? They’re 900-page bibles.
Founders is a one to two-hour summary of biographies of the most successful entrepreneurs (think Steve Jobs) highlighting the keys to their success.
I’m also considering How To Take Over The World (https://www.httotw.com/), a concise summary of some of the greatest conquerors of land, industry, and economy.
Any other podcasts I should consider?
4/ No more play-by-play.
Recently, I had one of those light bulb moments when my wife gives me the play-by-play of how one of our kids is ruining the day…it sets me off.
So I decided not to focus on the play-by-play but on the feeling I was feeling and tagging my wife in if my emotions were running high.
Again the goal is to be Yoda (calm and consistent guide) for my kids. And I can achieve that only if I’m not fired up.
5/ One-on-one time
Make one-on-one time a priority with each of my kids every week.
A trip to the grocery store, a puzzle together, or maybe a snowy walk.
A little individual time for us to connect.
What are you doing to make 2023 the best year yet?
