The Daily Dad

As parents, we have to understand that we have an advantage now that we didn't have before.

Sure, they're being a little rude. They're being annoying. They are acting entitled. And yet? As we've said, maybe you are the problem.

You have this dream of what your house should look like. And then reality inevitably intrudes. And what is that reality? It's that you have kids.

Don't forget it. Don't rush through it. Don't let it wear you down…but remember what it is.

They'll be sad. They'll get dumped. They'll be heartbroken. They'll get fired and they will fail. As a parent, you have to understand this critical lesson: tears are not indictments. They are facts.

Success might change your lifestyle, but it doesn't change what your kids actually need from you. In this episode, Ryan sits down with self-made billionaire Robert Rosenkranz to talk about parenting, presence, and why money can't buy you any more control over who your children become.

Why are we so easily surprised and frustrated and disappointed? Why do we get so angry?

Why are we so hard on ourselves? Why do we beat up on ourselves?

Before you complain about how selfish and crazy your kids are, we ought to look in the mirror.

It seems like such a dangerous world. It's what keeps you up at night as a parent—what if, what if, what if?

At some point, your kids stop falling for your tricks and start calling you out on them. In this episode, Ryan and Sam share recent stories from raising kids who question everything, think fast, and keep them humble.

Before, you could wing it. But now? Now that you have kids? Now that you are maturing...or at least older? Now it's a whole different ballgame.

You're not quite as productive. You're not as career-driven. Your boss or your friends or your peers or even your fans, maybe they wonder what happened to you.

No child thinks they need a philosopher. Most adults don't either. Yet no matter our age, we all have problems.

You tried to do two things at once, and now you're getting frustrated with them, instead of yourself. That was your mistake.

When you read parenting books, it's hard not to get the distinct sense that there is a right way to parent.

In today's episode, Ryan and Doris Kearns Goodwin discuss how parents can teach history to their children, encouraging curiosity in kids, and the importance of maintaining the love for history in education. Doris Kearns Goodwin is a Pulitzer Prize–winning presidential historian and bestselling author. Her latest #1 New York Times bestseller, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, is being adapted into a feature film, while her earlier works, Team of Rivals, The Bully Pulpit, and No Ordinary Time, have won some of the nation's highest literary honors and inspired leaders worldwide. She has served as a White House Fellow to President Lyndon Johnson, produced acclaimed docuseries for the HISTORY Channel, and earned countless awards for her contributions to history and leadership.She has a new book out called The Leadership Journey: How Four Kids Became Presidents in which she shares the different childhood experiences of Abraham Lincoln. Theodore Roosevelt. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Lyndon B. Johnson, and how they each found their way to the presidency. Grab copies of Doris' books Team of Rivals and Leadership at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.comFollow Doris on Instagram @DorisKGoodwin and check out more of her work on her website doriskearnsgoodwin.com

You wanted this for so long. To have this happy family. And what are you doing with it?

As parents, we need philosophy just as much as our kids do. Parenting demands the four Stoic virtues: courage (to do what's hard), discipline (to follow through), justice (to do what's right), and wisdom (to know what matters).

They make us sit down for meals. They pull us away from our desks. They made it harder, if not impossible, to multi-task. They get us to put the phone down.

For generations, some parents have tried withholding praise, withholding pride, withholding approval so that their kids don't feel entitled to it. The idea is that this will make them hungry, make them really work for it.

Your focus may shift in parenthood, but that's what's meant to happen.

In today's episode, Ryan is in the hot seat as Samantha asks him questions about his latest book, Wisdom Takes Work, which released this week. They talk about why Wisdom Takes Work is a parenting book in disguise, raising curious kids, and why “how was your day?” might be the worst question ever.

As parents, it's our job to help them navigate the hard parts of life, not actively avoid them.

Right now, they're interested in something. Right now, they're being curious. Why are you interrupting this?

Our generation, just as all past generations have, make decisions in the present that have consequences borne primarily by future generations. But these future generations are not faceless, nameless hordes, they are our children and grandchildren.

We all want our kids to do well in school. You want them to enjoy learning. We just need to understand that every education is different. Because every kid is different!

How do we help them become lifelong learners? Well, it starts with being one yourself.

If you've ever felt like everyone else has parenting figured out, this episode is for you. Ryan shares eight pieces of advice that are honest, imperfect, and actually useful reminders for real life.

We are in the debt of teachers and grandparents and mentors who didn't treat us as the average but as the extraordinary individual we were and thus gave us individual treatment. Don't your kids deserve that, too?

Kids need routine. Kids need consistency. If you miss a window, there could be hell to pay. So we put them on the schedule and we try to stay on it.Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society

We can do more and we should try to do more, but let's make sure we are at least doing this.Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/society

Maybe you don't like it. Maybe you think it's a bad idea. Maybe you're scared for them. But you know what? It doesn't matter.

We're afraid they're not learning enough. We're concerned they're falling behind. Is it the school? Is there something wrong with them?

Reading Ryan Holiday's books is one thing. Living with him during a launch? That's a whole different story. In today's episode, Ryan and Sam talk about how they survive book season — and each other — when a new release is approaching.

We're always in a rush. We have to get them ready for school. We have to finish up dinner. We have to get them off to bed. Give yourself the ultimate gift of parenting tools, structure, and community. Join The Daily Dad Society here: https://dailydad.com/societyHead to ZBiotics.com/DAILYDAD and use the code DAILYDAD at checkout for 15% off!✉️ Sign up for the Daily Dad email: DailyDad.com

We try to be conscious of this. Of how fast their childhood goes by. Of the need to be present. To enjoy this. To soak it in. And then what do we do?

You're here because you yourself are eager to learn more every day—about parenting and raising great kids. You yourself are modeling lifelong learning and curiosity for your kids in ways you might not even realize.

Why would you think you'd be exempted? Why are you so easily surprised or frustrated by it? Why are you so eager to blame?

Things might be safer than they were in the past, but that doesn't exactly help you relax, does it?

Remember when every kid wanted to be an astronaut? Not so much anymore. Today, Ryan talks with former NASA astronaut Terry Virts about why that dream has faded, how we can get kids excited about adventure again, and why critical thinking might be the most important skill for the next generation. At 17, Terry Virts joined the Air Force and went on to become an F-16 fighter pilot and test pilot. He has flown combat missions over Iraq, tested the world's fastest jets and commanded the International Space Station. He's orbited Earth 3,400 times and has spent 213 days in space total. His military decorations include the NASA Space Flight Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Aerial Achievement Medal, NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, et al. He retired from NASA in August 2016 and is currently running for U.S. Senate from Texas. Follow Terry on Instagram @Astro_Terry and you can learn more about his campaign at https://www.terryvirts.com/

We don't have to grit our teeth and hold our breath and hope for the best.

Life is filled with difficult, frustrating people. As parents, we encounter this reality daily—at work, in traffic, even at our children's afterschool activities.

They seemed like they lived in their own world. They were so big, so strong. They were closed off to us. When we were kids, many of our parents were quite far away from us.

You care about them more than anything. You would die if anything happened to them. And how do you show this?

We want to keep their clothes clean. We want them to get good grades. We want them to learn good behavior. All this matters, sure…a little.

The best way to teach your kids about the world is to actually go see it. In today's episode, Ryan shares how simple day trips have created unforgettable family memories, sparked curiosity in his kids, and proved that the best adventures don't always require a plane ticket. You'll also hear some funny (and thoughtful) questions from Ryan's kids as they interview Chet Garner, host of The DayTripper.Chet Garner is the creator, producer, and host of "The Daytripper", an 11-time Emmy-Award winning travel show airing on PBS stations across the country.You can check out Chet's show The Daytripper on PBS and his videos on YouTube @TheDaytripperTV Follow Chet on Instagram @ChetTripper and see more at thedaytripper.com

No one looks good angry. Worse still, that image can etch itself into our kids' brains for a long time.

It's not enough to just handle what you can handle. We have to help each other handle what needs to be handled.

Yes, another listen in the car. Yeah, they want to watch it again. Can't we listen or watch or do or talk about anything else?