Hey, Ready To Dad Crew!

Summer has a way of making every goodbye harder.

Parks are full, days are long, and your kids are soaking up every moment. So when it’s time to leave, it always feels like you’re cutting something short.

This week, we’re focusing on that moment, not the struggle itself, but what’s really going on underneath, and how you can guide your kids through it.

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Leaving is one of the hardest things we ask our kids to do.

Not because they're being difficult. But because they're kids. Fully in it. Completely present. And we're asking them to stop.

Last week we were at the park. The kind of summer afternoon where the light is still warm at 6pm, and the kids have no idea time exists. My son was running. Laughing. Completely in his own world.

Then I said it was time to go.

My first instinct was to explain: Dinner’s almost ready, it’s getting late, we’ll come back another day. I went through the whole list, haha.

None of it landed.

It wasn’t that he didn’t understand. He just wasn’t looking for information. He was enjoying himself, and I was asking him to stop without recognizing that.

So I paused and changed direction.

I know. You were having a great time.

Just saying it out loud changed things. Then I turned it into a game. Do you think you can beat me to the gate? He was gone before I even finished the sentence.

It wasn’t meant to be a trick; it was a transition. There’s a difference.

What I've learned is that kids don't resist leaving out of defiance. They resist because the ending feels abrupt. They haven't been given any space to move through it. We go from playing to pulling, with nothing in between.

When we acknowledge what they're leaving, we give them a bridge. A timer before the last slide. One more lap. A race to the car. Don't look at it like bribes. More like on-ramps to the next thing.

We often try to use logic with our kids during moments that are really all about emotion. But being present during a transition isn’t about explaining; it’s about meeting them where they are before asking them to move on.

Transitions are emotional before they're logistical.

Before you ask your child to leave, acknowledge what they're leaving behind.

A dad I worked with told me his son shuts down completely every time they have to leave somewhere fun. He had tried countdowns, warnings, and promises of coming back. Nothing was working. He was starting to wonder if he was just bad at transitions.

I asked him one question: When you give the warning, are you acknowledging what he's in the middle of, or just announcing that it's ending?

He paused. Then said he was usually just announcing.

That's where the shift happens. Kids don't need more notice. They need more recognition. There's a difference between 'five more minutes' and 'I see you're right in the middle of something. Five more minutes and then we'll head out.' One is a countdown. The other is a connection.

Once he started leading with acknowledgment, the transitions got easier. Not perfect. But easier.

If that sounds familiar, reply to this email. That’s exactly what coaching is for.

Reply directly to this email with your question, or use this quick form to submit anonymously. Whether it’s about family routines, connecting with your kids, or managing stress, I’m here to help!

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