Hey Reader,

I’m sitting in a café with a warm fire in front of me.
Cléo is in daycare, Aurélie is guiding a tour, and I can focus on my work without worrying about my family.
It feels good.

Something’s been on my mind lately.
It’s about what happens when I’m in the presence of my partner.

When I’m alone with my daughter, I feel steady.
I can set boundaries, make decisions, stay grounded.
I don’t need to check with anyone.
But when Aurélie is around, something changes.
I start to see her as the authority when it comes to parenting.
Maybe even in life in general.

It’s not easy to admit.
But it’s better to see it than to hide it.

This weekend we had a small moment that made it clear.
Aurélie’s mom was feeding Cléo.
We had agreed that Cléo only eats in two places, her Montessori chair or her high chair.
That keeps meals calm and clear.
But when Cléo didn’t want to sit, her grandma said, “Just this once,” and sat her on her lap.
I saw it and said nothing.
​Something in me thought, if Aurélie doesn’t say anything, then it must be fine.​
Later I learned it wasn’t.
She told me she didn’t know how to react because it’s hard for her to set boundaries with her mom.

That’s when I realized that silence isn’t neutral.
Every time I hold back, I’m giving away my agency.
And when I do that, someone else has to carry it.
In this case, it was Aurélie.

Since then I’ve been paying attention to where I hand over my power without noticing.
Not only in parenting.
In other parts of life too.

Where are you giving yours away?

Awareness is the first step.
​But change comes from practice.

That’s why I built 21 Days to Reconnect.​
It’s a short daily practice for dads who want to bring this kind of awareness into real life.
Each day you get a story and one thing to try that takes less than ten minutes.
Simple, steady action that helps you return to yourself and your family.

It costs $47.
For readers of this letter, it’s half off for the next 48 hours.
If this spoke to you, take the next step.
​You’ll find that change starts to feel lighter when you do it in small, honest moves.

​

See more of my work at rooteddad.com

Your hub for YouTube, guides, and more.

You received this email because you subscribed or bought one of our products. Unsubscribe | Preferences | Aristide Briand, Colmar, France 68000