Share
The Daily Dad
The Stakes Are High
It’s hard to picture Fred Rogers as a parent. Of course, we can easily recall him as Mr. Rogers, patiently and lovingly explaining things to generations of young viewers at home. But that was his work. Could he have really been like that at his home? Or was he much less perfect there—losing his temper, stressed about money, involved with himself?
Obviously no one really knows the answer to this but his kids, but from the various recent documentaries we are told Fred Rogers was a great dad. We know that Fred Rogers tried very hard to be the same kind and understanding man that he was for other people’s children with his own. Did he have his own issues? His own flaws? Absolutely. Who doesn’t?
But he also knew the stakes were too high to simply leave it at that:
When we choose to be parents, we accept another human being as part of ourselves, and a large part of our emotional selves will stay with that person as long as we live. From that time on, there will be another person on this earth whose orbit around us will affect us as surely as the moon affects the tides, and affect us in some ways more deeply than anyone else can. Our children are extensions of ourselves.
Our responsibilities as parents extend far beyond just putting a roof over their head and packing lunches for school. It includes working on our own emotional issues and ourselves so that the little people in our orbit don’t get thrown out of whack (remember John Wooden’s advice: A Little Fellow Follows You). We can’t be consummate professionals at work only to come home, loosen our tie or our belts, and then just wallow in our personal status quo. We have to be growing, improving, actively working to provide a good example and a safe place for our kids to grow and learn.
We chose to bring them in the world. They depend on us and watch our every move. Now we owe it to them to live up to the stakes of the situation we have created. Every. Single. Day.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
More episodes
View all episodes
BONUS: 5 Quick Parenting Reminders You Need to Hear
05:42|Your kids are doing their job by being kids, but are you doing yours?Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society✉️ Sign up for the Daily Dad email: DailyDad.com📱 Follow Daily Dad: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTubeProtect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/dailydad or use code DAILYDAD and get 40% off your first yearIs It Your Marriage or Your Situation? | Angela Duckworth
10:28|The way your family acts under stress can start to look like who they really are. In today's episode, psychologist Angela Duckworth, bestselling author of Grit and author of the new book Situated talks to Ryan about mistaking a hard season for a bad marriage, how stress affects the way we judge each other, why kids need the same reminders over and over, and how small changes at home can bring out our best.Pick up signed copies of Angela’s new book, Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best, and her bestselling book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perserverance at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com/Learn more about Angela Duckworth's new book here: https://www.angeladuckworth.com/situatedAngela Duckworth’s Website: https://www.angeladuckworth.com/Follow Angela on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/angelalduckworth/Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society✉️ Sign up for the Daily Dad email: DailyDad.com📱 Follow Daily Dad: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTubeProtect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/dailydad or use code DAILYDAD and get 40% off your first yearSomeday You’ll Want Them To Ask You For Stuff
02:48|Even if it’s frustrating now, even if it drives you crazy every time you’re at the store with them, take a second to remember this...Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society✉️ Sign up for the Daily Dad email: DailyDad.com📱 Follow Daily Dad: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTubeProtect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/dailydad or use code DAILYDAD and get 40% off your first yearLet Them Learn
03:02|We have to make them understand that they have what it takes to do this on their own and if they don’t, the best way to get it is to develop it by experience, by curiosity and exploration. Our Luctor Et Emergo Medallion will help you remember to slow down and take advantage of teachable moments with your children. Grab your Luctor Et Emergo Medallion at our Daily Dad store!Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society✉️ Sign up for the Daily Dad email: DailyDad.com📱 Follow Daily Dad: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTubeProtect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/dailydad or use code DAILYDAD and get 40% off your first yearYou Don’t Need The Third Thing
02:08|Praise is always nice, but it’s sort of pathetic how desperately we want it…for doing our job. Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society✉️ Sign up for the Daily Dad email: DailyDad.com📱 Follow Daily Dad: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTubeProtect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/dailydad or use code DAILYDAD and get 40% off your first yearDon’t Let The Wall Win
02:03|There’s a wall—a wall between you and your feelings, a wall between you and other people, a wall between you and this present moment.Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society✉️ Sign up for the Daily Dad email: DailyDad.com📱 Follow Daily Dad: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTubeProtect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/dailydad or use code DAILYDAD and get 40% off your first yearNot Everyone Can Afford This (But You Can)
02:18|You could choose to be around more. You just won’t. You could choose to be more active, more aware, more involved…Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society✉️ Sign up for the Daily Dad email: DailyDad.com📱 Follow Daily Dad: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTubeProtect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/dailydad or use code DAILYDAD and get 40% off your first yearDid Our Wedding Vows Cover the Goats?
13:32|Ryan says he didn’t sign up for goats in the house, but Sam has the wedding vows to prove otherwise. Between looking back on ten years of The Daily Stoic and debating which animals belong in the house, Ryan and Sam occasionally remember what they were supposed to be talking about.The new 10th Anniversary Edition of The Daily Stoic is out NOW! 👉 Grab your copy here: https://store.dailystoic.com/pages/the-daily-stoic-10Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society✉️ Sign up for the Daily Dad email: DailyDad.com📱 Follow Daily Dad: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTubeProtect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/dailydad or use code DAILYDAD and get 40% off your first yearDon’t Wish Away A Minute of Their Life
02:15|Don’t wish it away, no matter how frustrating this phase or this bedtime or this age is. 📚 Book mentiond: Travels with EpicurusThe new 10th Anniversary Edition of The Daily Stoic is out NOW! 👉 Grab your copy here: https://store.dailystoic.com/pages/the-daily-stoic-10Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society✉️ Sign up for the Daily Dad email: DailyDad.com📱 Follow Daily Dad: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTubeProtect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/dailydad or use code DAILYDAD and get 40% off your first year