On Sunday I found blue crayon markings on the kitchen counter.
Our daughter had gone above and beyond with her artwork. And it took some scrubbing with hot water to get it off.
The good news was: I was chuckling the whole time I cleaned.
One of the core parenting philosophies my wife and I hold is to be encouraging. While we have clear boundaries around safety, we want our children to play, explore, and discover the relationship between actions and consequences.
So we err on the side of “go for it!”.
This approach means we occasionally end up cleaning crayon from walls, countertops, and even the sofa. But it also means our child is developing the confidence to experiment, create, and think both inside and outside the lines.
This is the beautiful tradeoff of encouraging exploration. We could stifle it and demand a spotless home, but we’ve decided the magic is worth the occasional mess.
What are some of your philosophies? Whether you’re a parent, executive, or entrepreneur, what ideologies guide your leadership? Do you recognize the inherent tradeoffs? Do you accept both the risks and rewards, or do you find yourself trying to control every outcome?
Last week I launched an 8-week program specifically for fathers of young children (0-2 years). Being a dad can be incredibly rewarding, but also uniquely challenging and stressful.
In this group, we’ll cover things like navigating sleep challenges, setting boundaries, and balancing work and childcare, all while connecting with other dads who understand the journey.
If you (or a father you know) would like to join a community of like-minded dads getting practical instruction about raising young kids, click this link for details.
The first call is on April 23, and registration closes on April 20.
