It wasn’t that long ago that you celebrated everything. You didn’t just mark the passage of every week and month as you proudly told people your baby’s age—She’s 16 weeks! She’s 13 months!—but you actively looked for the most minor of accomplishments, too. We were excited about them almost taking a first step. They almost slept through the night. They almost wrote their name. They almost made it to the bathroom in time.
We didn’t take anything for granted. We noticed every little bit of progress, no matter how small. We treated them like a prodigy for doing the things that nearly every child does and that, eventually, almost every functioning member of society figures out how to do.
At what point did that stop? When did we get so jaded? Why don’t we acknowledge the little stuff anymore?
Sure, we celebrate accomplishments now, but not the ‘almosts.’ We don’t give them credit for doing more than they could yesterday. We don’t give them that almost preposterously generous interpretation anymore. We don’t brag about them to everyone for every little thing.
Why?
The truth is, they are getting better, they are making progress, they are getting closer, every day, to the person we want them to be. They are learning. They are trying. They are struggling. They are doing it.
Let’s let them feel that. Let’s show them that we notice. Let’s be a fan—that’s our job, not just when they’re little, but now and forever and always.
P.S. We think this idea—that you should celebrate all the wins, big or small, and be your kids’ greatest supporter—is so important that in The Daily Dad book, the entire month of August is based around this theme. The chapter is titled “Always Be A Fan”—and it is, as we’ve said, the greatest gift you can give to your kids. Get your signed copy of The Daily Dad here.
For those dedicated dads that crack open their copy every day, we’ve also created an exclusive leatherbound edition of The Daily Dad. In addition to a genuine leather cover, this edition of the book has premium paper, illustrations, and a ribbon to hold your place or mark your favorite passage. It’s made to withstand years of regular use so that you can keep coming back to it—or pass it on to a loved one or friend who would find the meditations inside useful in their own parenting journey.
Get your premium leather edition of The Daily Dad today (signed copies available).
