If you had to sum up Stoic philosophy in one word, you could do a lot worse than presence. This is what Marcus Aurelius struggled with as emperor of Rome, what Epictetus struggled with as a slave, and what Seneca struggled with in Nero’s court. Despite the vast differences in their roles and responsibilities, each of these great Stoic philosophers all wrestled with the same fundamental challenge: how to remain focused on the present moment when faced with endless distractions, pressing obligations, and the weight of both past events and future concerns.

Now add to that list the fact that both Marcus and Seneca were parents, too. And while being a parent is very different today than it was in ancient Rome, we modern parents face a similar daily battle for mindfulness. In fact, you might say we have more distractions pulling us away from the present moment than the Stoics did: smartphones constantly buzzing with notifications, 24/7 email access, streaming services with unlimited content, video calls interrupting our work day, news alerts, instant messages.

But the Stoics would remind us to take a moment, here and there, to just be still. Retreat into yourself, Marcus said. You don’t need to head to the country. You can stop for a few seconds and find peace. Force your mind to concentrate, Seneca said. Stop straying, ignore the noise, and quiet the bedlam within. They knew the power of stillness, and they actively made it a priority each day.

We should do the same as parents. Because the greatest gift we can give our children, as we’ve said before, is presence. Not presents—presence. That doesn’t just mean being physically present, but emotionally and mentally available to them, too.

Because each moment we spend truly present with them—whether reading a bedtime story, sharing a meal, or simply listening to their thoughts—builds lasting connections that shape their understanding of love, attention, and human connection. In a world that increasingly pulls us in different directions, this level of presence might be the most valuable skill we can cultivate—both for ourselves and for the next generation.

P.S. Check out Ryan Holiday’s Stillness Is Key if you’re looking to cultivate this level of presence in your daily life and pass this skill on to your children. The book is full of both Stoic and Buddhist exercises for being more focused and in the moment—which, as we mentioned, is the greatest gift we can give our kids.

Head to the Daily Stoic Store today to Get signed copies of Stillness Is The Key at The Daily Stoic Store—where you can also preorder Wisdom Takes Work, Ryan’s latest book on Stoicism!