As parents, we have a choice about what we see. Just like everyone can view the cup as half full or half empty, we have significant power over the lens we bring to each parenting situation, crisis, and potential frustration.

There’s one specific thing we should try to see as parents—something beyond just finding the good in things. In one of the most beautiful passages in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, Marcus deliberately identifies beauty in mundane things. He observes how loaves of bread crack open at the top in the oven. He notices wheat bending low under its own weight. He sees beauty even in the flecks of foam on a wild boar’s mouth—an otherwise grotesque creature.

As parents, we need to seek out this beauty—especially in our sleep-deprived, crazed, loud world. A disheveled room with toys tossed about should strike us as wonderful, not just another mess to clean. We should marvel at our baby’s tan lines where their fat rolls are. We should hear our noisy house as a natural symphony and savor it while it lasts. Even in clipped fingernails and outgrown clothes, we can find the bittersweet evidence of growth, marking time’s precious passage.

Marcus Aurelius had the eye of a poet. It helped him find joy and gratitude amid the darkness of Rome. As parents, we must cultivate this same eye to appreciate every moment of this surreal—and yes, beautiful—journey we’re on.

This is precisely why Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations remains so relevant for parents today. At its core, it teaches us how to train our perspective—to see beyond the surface and discover profound joy and meaning in life’s seemingly ordinary moments.

And this month at Daily Stoic, we’re going one step further than just sharing this wisdom—we’re helping you live it.

April is Meditations Month at Daily Stoic, in honor of Marcus’s 1,905th birthday on the 26th, and we’ve created everything you need to transform Marcus’s ancient wisdom into practical tools for becoming a better person and, in turn, a better parent:

• How To Read Meditations Guide—a step-by-step companion to help you understand and apply Marcus’s wisdom
• Live Q&A with Ryan Holiday (April 26th)—free to anyone who purchases our Meditations Guide before April 26th
• Premium leatherbound edition of Meditations—beautifully crafted to last a lifetime
• Bundle & Save 20%—get the guide + the book and save 20% for this month only!

Head here to learn more and buy your book, bundle, or guide today!