Stop Escaping Your Kids: Start Inviting Them Into Your Life

The smallest shared moments become the strongest bonds, if you stop pushing your kids away.

Too many men today seek reasons to get away from their kids.

They disguise it with language like “needing space” or “time to reset.” They say they need a break, that they’ve earned it, that fatherhood is exhausting…

And while there’s a case for rest, there’s a bigger case for presence.

Because here’s the hard truth: If you’re constantly trying to escape your kids, you’re missing the point of being a father.

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I was heading to the gas station this past Saturday, a quick run to fill up, nothing more…

It was a 10-minute errand tops...

But I looked at my daughter before I left and said, “Come on, let’s go for a ride.”

No agenda.

No big bonding moment planned.

But that 10-minute drive turned into a 30-minute loop.

Why?

Once we filled up and headed back home, she asked, “Can we take the long way home?”

And during that extra time, she opened up about everything:

Her friends.

Her fears.

Her thoughts.

Her heart.

All because I said yes to a simple ride.

It wasn’t a vacation.

It wasn’t a birthday dinner.

It wasn’t a scheduled “dad time” block on my calendar.

It was spontaneous.

Real.

And exactly what she needed.

And the truth is…