They're Always Watching
Paternal Precept #003
The legendary coach John Wooden’s favorite poem is one every father should hang on the wall. It begins:
“A careful man I want to be—
a little fellow follows me.”
It’s called “A Little Fellow Follows Me,” and it captures one of our deepest responsibilities as dads: modeling the kind of person we hope our children become.
I’ve shared before how hard this is for me, but awareness matters. As Kristen Race explains in Mindful Parenting, mirror neurons in our children’s brains reflect the emotions they see in us. Even our internal reactions can leave a mark.
The Stoics taught that while we can’t control what happens—or even our emotions—we can always choose how we respond. That choice, repeated daily, shapes who our children become.
Affiliate Disclaimer
Paternal Progress participates in the Bookshop.org affiliate program. When you buy books through the links in this newsletter, I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you. I only recommend titles I believe can support your growth as a parent. For more, see my Sponsorship & Affiliate Policy or explore the full list on the Bookshelf. Thank you for supporting my work and local bookstores.