It’s just soccer practice. It’s just math class. It’s just whatever.
They can miss a day, ok?
You are not going to raise a lazy, entitled failure because you let them take a mental health day, because you gave them an extra day to recover, because you extended the family trip or you took them with you on a work project.
This stuff is not that serious. None of it is. As we’ve said, you’re not going to look back and remember how consistently you got them to every commitment or be proud that your 8-year-old had the best attendance out of anyone. No, you’re going to remember the time you spent together. They’re going to remember whether you took them seriously or not, heard them or not, were understanding or not, fun or not.
There are other ways to teach them about showing up, about honoring commitments, about punctuality—all of that. And you’re teaching that to them (day in and day out, right?). It’s ok to make some exceptions. It’s ok to let this slide. They’re kids.
P.S. If you want an easy, structured way to record those memories of time spent together (and to reflect on your parenting), I always recommend journaling.
One line per day—just swap five minutes of checking your phone!—builds up to create a record of your family’s growth, your own growth as a parent, and the wonderful little things that happen. You can preserve fleeting moments like their current favorite hobbies, that funny thing they did, or something they said that made you proud.
Start your practice with the Daily Dad Five Year Reflection Journal, created exactly for this purpose. With its durable leather cover and thoughtful prompts, your journaling practice will transform into a family keepsake to be cherished for years to come.
Answer one question per day, like:
- What’s something taking patience away from where it’s needed most—at home?
- What do they think is beautiful?
- What are you worried about right now that probably won’t matter in five years?
- What do you admire most about them?
In the blur of school runs, bedtime stories, and endless responsibilities, precious moments slip away. With the Daily Dad Five Year Reflection Journal and your commitment to one line per day, they don’t have to.
