994 – Let them lead. Ask what they want to do one morning and do that. You may be surprised at what that thing is. I talked with a parent friend about this once and her daughter’s response was “stay off your phone all day”. That was it. It’s nothing to be scared of.
My daughter’s response today was “play Harry Potter dolls”. That was it. What’s perfect to you. What’s ideal to you. What you think they want, or will make them happy, may not be in alignment. So, ask. Then do.
That’s it. Just one day. No phone. Playing dolls. Walking in the woods. If you are trying to accomplish something, like not being in the house, or in front of a screen modify the question. “If we could do anything not in the house or in front of a screen, what would it be?”
No judgment. If they don’t have an answer, that may be a sign of something bigger to work on. However, you can help get to something. Not a family fun day. Not a let’s get out of the house day. Just a day.
A Better Father 