How a Parenting Book Club Changed Everything
A few years ago, I started a Parenting Book Club at our kids’ Montessori school. At the time, it felt like a small idea—an opportunity for parents to come together, share insights, and maybe pick up a few new tools along the way. What I didn’t realize was that those monthly gatherings would completely reshape how I saw parenting, relationships, and even myself.
Each conversation revealed something powerful: parents weren’t just looking for advice or strategies. We were looking for connection, for understanding, for a place to talk about the deeper, often unspoken parts of raising children—the doubts, the hopes, the emotions that surface in everyday moments.
One book in particular, Parenting from the Inside Out by Daniel Siegel, changed everything for me. It invited me to look inward—to see how my own childhood experiences and inner world influence how I respond to my kids. It helped me understand that what’s happening inside me—my stress, my stories, my patterns—often has more impact on my parenting than what’s happening around me. That realization was both humbling and freeing.
I began noticing my own reactions more closely, asking: What’s really driving this moment? That simple curiosity opened the door to greater patience, empathy, and presence—not just as a parent, but as a person.
Over time, those conversations and reflections planted a deeper seed: What if this kind of awareness and growth could extend beyond one school community? What if dads, in particular, had a place to explore these questions together?
That question led me to pursue coaching certification and ultimately create The Dad Insight—a space for fathers to explore the inner landscape of parenthood, connection, and identity.
Looking back, the Parenting Book Club wasn’t just about books—it was about becoming. It taught me that the journey to being a better parent begins not with changing our children, but with understanding ourselves.
3 Takeaways to Bring Into Your Parenting This Week
1. Pause Before You React
The next time your child’s behavior stirs frustration or impatience, take a slow breath before responding. Notice what’s happening inside you—your body, your emotions, your thoughts. Often, that pause is the space where awareness begins and old patterns start to shift.
2. Get Curious About Your Triggers
When something your child does “pushes your buttons,” ask yourself: What does this moment remind me of? Many of our reactions are echoes from our own childhood experiences. Bringing curiosity, rather than judgment, helps us respond from the present instead of reacting from the past.
3. Repair and Reconnect
Perfection isn’t the goal—connection is. When you lose patience or say something you regret, come back to your child and repair the moment. A sincere “I’m sorry” or “I was feeling overwhelmed” models self-awareness, accountability, and emotional honesty—all things our kids learn best by seeing.
Reflection
This week, try noticing one moment when you feel yourself tightening, rushing, or reacting. Instead of correcting your child right away, take a breath and gently ask yourself:
What’s happening inside me right now? What does this moment need—control, or connection?
Write a few notes about what you observe—without judgment, just curiosity. Over time, this simple practice becomes a bridge between awareness and choice… and between who you’ve been and the parent you’re becoming.