Fatherhood Resource
Fatherhood Thoughts

It's easier to rush through tasks.
It's easier to just do it instead of taking the time to allow your child to figure it out.
It's easier to disregard the learning opportunity for a swift result.

It's easy to be a passive, complacent father.

Lead and serve your children through daily challenges.

In his book, Masculinity Manifesto, Ryan Michler talks about learning how to lead and serve others by allowing them to fail. Part of that is allowing them to learn problem solving through experience while you "lead", not do.

For me and my children (all under 5), this looks like letting them put their shoes on. Taking their own plate to the sink after a meal. Putting their clothes in the hamper.

If there are struggles during these tasks, we talk through them. Ask where and how they are struggling and make suggestions towards potential actions.

By no means do I get this right, have patience, or refrain from doing it myself every time. But I understand the value in the every day little moments.

- Chad Vrla
Founder of TheIntentionalFather.com

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather

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I am a firm believer in creating a family environment that breeds togetherness. A family that prays together, stays together is one adage on the world wide web. It doesn’t have to be specifically prayer of course.

Families should attempt to create reasons to complete activities as a unit. Parents must take the responsibility of tailoring the activities based on their kids, maintaining a good attitude and guidance as the activity moves on. That way everyone participates and enjoys it.

You don’t have to create a pre-school in your home, but as life’s pace increases, activities outside the homes multiply, so should the creation of time that your family spends with each other. I challenge myself and all parents to make this an ever evolving goal for our families.

A road trip is an excellent way to get some place that you want to go, but on the way it is an opportunity for your family to create memories. You are all in the vehicle, headed in the same vector, attempting to arrive at a set destination. Make use of it for the better!

We have found road trips to many a destination, have strengthened our family bond. We built memories on the way, and aided in the enjoyment of the overall trip no matter where we were going.

So from my wife to you, here are some quick hits on making road trips fun for your kids and less hair deleting for us parental units.

Read full Encouragement Article here:
www.theintentionalfather.com/post/road-trip

- Jerod Post
Contributor at TheIntentionalFather.com

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather

Featured Intentional Activity: Movie Night!

Make popcorn, dim the lights, buy the large box of your child's favorite candy, put your phone away, and watch their favorite movie together!

Challenge yourself to get into the movie just as your child does.

Every now and then, whether it's a funny scene or a foreshadowing line, your child will look up at you to see if you were paying attention. Make sure you are! If you are, they probably won't say anything, but simply turn and continue to watch. Inside, however, it will make them happy knowing you didn't miss that moment.

If you aren't paying attention when they look up at you, there's a chance they could be disappointed. They are hoping for you to be just as excited as they are and, in their eyes, how can that be possible if you aren't paying attention?

It's the little, intentional things that can make a simple movie into a memorable Movie Night. Do the little things well. Be intentional.

Read more at:
www.theintentionalfather.com/intentional-activity/movie-night

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather

Teach your children how to maneuver through adversity. We are stronger when we come out the other side of any affliction.

Later in Romans, Paul tells us how to begin the approach:
"Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer. - Romans 12:12

Being patient and praying in frustrating moments allows us time to develop an appropriate, loving response, instead of a harsh reaction.

Take each affliction and discipline opportunity as a moment to disciple, speaking into your children in regards to who they are and how their momentary actions don't reflect that.

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather

It's one thing to be intentional with your words and actions when you are directly spending time with your kids. But they see and hear more than you may think.

Watching your child mimic your actions, and as they get older your words, highlights miniscule acts that would normally go completely unnoticed in your daily life.

That means we must live with intentionality.
We must live with purpose.
We must be on mission, every day, knowing that our children are growing, heavily influenced by our behavior.

My continual challenge to Father's is to review your daily living through the lens of intentionally for the betterment of your children.

- Chad Vrla
Founder of TheIntentionalFather.com

Read full Encouragement Article at:
www.theintentionalfather.com/post/live-intentionally

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather

Enjoy the outdoors and spend quality one on one time with your child! Whether a casual stroll or mountain trek, take the time to step away from the hustle of life and experience nature together.

Whether in a Local, State, or National Park or even sidewalks through a neighborhood, there are places to walk and hike all around. Start a morning routine or choose a random weekend afternoon, hikes are an excellent way to spend quality one on one time with a child. Depending on the age of your child, or the current relationship, plan out talking points in an effort to learn and develop a closer bond. Or sometimes quality quiet time together can be just as effective. Know your child and prepare accordingly.

Read More at:
www.theintentionalfather.com/intentional-activity/take-a-hike

#bepresent #BeIntentional #theintentionalfather