Hey Dads!
Glad you’re here! This is the official first episode of The DadCast. Two weeks ago, I released episode zero, which enabled me to get my format set up and establish the DadCast with iTunes. That episode was brief, and only covered an overview of what I want to accomplish with the DadCast.
In this episode, the first official, full length episode of the DadCast, I want to talk about something extremely important. I think this is the perfect topic to launch with. I’m talking about telling your kids you love them. Not just showing them, although that’s important as well. But saying it… frequently.
That’s the focus of episode 1 of The DadCast!
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Episode Notes
DadCast Encouragement
Telling your kids that you love them is crucial. They may see it, but if they don’t hear it from you as well, they’re missing out, and so are you. Once you develop this habit as a dad, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start doing this sooner, and your kids will have tons of great memories to cherish.
This is an area we often neglect as dads. It’s easy to assume that our kids know that we love them. And they might know it. But hearing it reassures them, builds their self esteem, encourages them, and give them strength to face life, knowing without a doubt you are in their corner!
Dadhood Resources
How To Be A Great Dad!
One of the most important things you can do for your kids is to tell them you love them. Without being reassured of this, our kids are drifting away relationally. But nothing provides stability like verbal (and non-verbal) expressions of our love.
Here are a few links that I refer to in this episode of the DadCast, or from which I gathered some of my information:
- Study Shows That Love Contributes To A Child’s Development
- Showing Affection To Your Kids
- LifeWay: 30 Ways To Say I Love You To Your Kids
The Bible gives us some insight into this as well. Take a look at these passages:
- Proverbs 23:24: The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him.
- Ephesians 6:4: Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
- Psalm 103:13: As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
Show Your Kids Today That You Love Them!
There are a lot of ways that you can show/tell your kids that you love them. Here are a few suggestions on how to apply today’s DadCast to your family life right away.
- Go. Right now. Tell your kids you love them. If you aren’t with them right at the moment, make sure you do this then when you see them. Don’t lump all your kids together in this either. Single them out.
- Write your child a note or a letter. A simple post-it note can go a long way. My son kept a scrap of paper on which I scribbled my love to him under his pillow for a week. He probably still has it!
- Call or text your kids throughout the day. Be strategic. A text telling them you love them right before a big game can help boost their confidence, especially if you aren’t able to be there physically.
- Take a child to go get ice cream. Don’t do this will all your kids at once; one at a time adds to the feeling of specialness. It doesn’t have to be extravagant either. My four-year-old son loves a soft serve cone from McDonald’s… as long as it has a Play Place. While you’re out, make sure you tell him you love him.
Summary Question
How do you tell your kids you love them? What do you do to make this special for them? And how do you help yourself make sure that you you do this consistently? You can leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Be deliberate, Dad!
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If you have an idea for a DadCast you would like to see or a question about how you can become a more deliberate dad, feel free to contact me.
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