22. The Roller Coaster of Fatherhood - Finding Joy in Survival Mode

04/14/22 • 18 min

Docs2Dads - A Pediatrician’s Field Guide for Fathers

The last few weeks have been full of the ups and downs of fatherhood. I had a couple of days where everyone in my family was sick, which meant more time together as a family, but it's not always easy to find joy in those extra moments together when you aren't feeling well or your kids are sick.
I also share the story of a cool professional opportunity I had and the mixed emotions that lead to when I told my son I had to travel for work. He was sad that I was going to be gone for a couple of days, but this was an important step for my career. These are the tough choices we have to make as dads, but it also shows the importance of being present with our kids when we do get time to spend with them.
I also make an exciting announcement in this episode that you will not want to miss!!
Our community is here to help you:
💪up your game as a JOY-FILLED dad
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 be the leader your family needs you to be
❤️‍🩹build a happier, healthier life for yourself, your family, and your community.
If you are enjoying this show, then you will also enjoy the new Docs2Dads weekly newsletter and Quarterly Dad Meetups that we are going to start having next month. The best way to get the newsletter and be the first to know about our other great events is by going to Docs2Dads.com and requesting to join the mailing list!! It takes less than 30 seconds and is your direct line to all the joyful dad resources you will need.
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Have a question about this or other topics? Connect with Dr. Scott at the Social links below:
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Have a question about this or other topics? Connect with Dr. Scott at the Social links below:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drscottpeds

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/docs2dadspod

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/docs2dadspod

Previous Episode

21. Why Our Words Matter

We are gearing up for our next big series on Development which will include deep dives into all the different areas of development and how dads can use their time with their kids to maximize Developmental Play.
Before we get to that, I wanted to spend some time talking about some wisdom I read in a few different places recently in regards to the words we use with ourselves, our wives, and our kids. It started with a tweet from Organziation Psychologist Adam Grant (no relation) who said, "You don't have to agree with everything I think, I don't even agree with everything I think." This got me thinking about how often we have thoughts flash in our mind that aren't even true or aren't consistent with our preferred world view. Most of the times we dismiss these thoughts immediately, but we should not lose sight of the fact that this happens. We will be more likely to recognize that those thoughts are out of place if we are spending time in meditation or prayer to process our thoughts and feelings in a consistent way.
Then I heard a homily from Fr. Mike Schmitz (host of the popular Bible in a Year Podcast) where he talked about a few more points about the relationship between our thoughts and our words as he reflected on the teaching in Matthew that from the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks.

It takes a little humility to acknowledge these three points, but I think it will help us all have more successful relationships.

Not everything I think needs to be said
Not everything I think is true
Not everything I think is actually what I think

So this week, we will take a look at the reasons why our words matter and how we can take control of the way we think about and talk about ourselves, our wives, and our kids.
We will talk about some habits you can develop to take control of these including a mantra I use when I am struggling with my kids behavior about getting CURIOUS not FURIOUS.
We then talk about a framework for determining whether we should say something out loud.
1. Is it true?
2. Is it actually what I believe? and
3. Will it lead to a positive change in the person I am trying to influence by expressing the thought?
I hope you find it helpful.
Today, I have a special request for you. If you found this episode helpful, don’t go leave a five star review, send to a buddy who you think this will help, that would mean even more to me than the review. And for those of you who have discovered this podcast through a friend, I’d love for you to reach out to me on social media or shoot me an email at [email protected]. I’d love to get to know each of you. There are about 45-50 of you that listen regularly, and you can’t all be my wife, so especially if you and I have never met, I would love to hear from you and about how you found the show. Thanks for listening in this week.

We are coming up on the launch of our new website, docs2dads.com - even now, you can go to the website and join our mailing list to be the first to know about upcoming events, our newsletter for new episodes and another place for our community to come together, share experiences and find all of the resources available for dads. Check it out at doc

Have a question about this or other topics? Connect with Dr. Scott at the Social links below:
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drscottpeds

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/docs2dadspod

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/docs2dadspod

Next Episode

23. Where Dads Really Thrive: Development and Play Pt. 1

If there's one area where dads really feel comfortable and confident when they start their journey as a father, it's play!!
Dads want to play with their kids.
Dads want to throw a ball with their kids and wrestle with them.
We want to play dress up and do tea time.
When we daydream about our new baby, even while they are still in the womb, it's about the fun things we want to do with them, teach them, and share with them.
Dads are pros at playtime!!
So this week, I want to lean into that area of strength and help dads make the most of that playtime to set their kids up for long-term success.
Understanding the developmental milestones will allow you to feel more joy as you see your kids achieve the next steps in their developmental progression and to be an effective advocate when parents identify a concern during playtime.
Over the next few weeks we will work our way through different age ranges and talk about different practical activities you can do to help stimulate your child to develop in particular areas if there is a concern.
If you have any questions about how to integrate developmental concepts into playtime or have a success story of a child who is overcoming developmental challenges. I would love to answer your question or highlight your successes during this series of the podcast!!
Send me your feedback at [email protected] or across our Social Media Platforms!!
Our community is here to help you:
💪up your game as a JOY-FILLED dad
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 be the leader your family needs you to be
❤️‍🩹build a happier, healthier life for yourself, your family, and your community.
Sign up for our newsletter and hear about upcoming events at Docs2Dads.com