We have the responsibility to teach and train our children in the way they should go – guiding them on their journey of maturity and life in the kingdom of God. And establishing regular times for dad school might help us toward this end.
All too often we defer the training of our kids to others. Perhaps we send them to school and youth group and think we’ve done our job. Or maybe we leave their moral and character development exclusively within the hands of our wife.
Of course, it still takes a village to raise a child and there’s no expectation that we must do it on our own. At the same time, our unique voice and presence is needed as a father. And dad school provides an opportunity to intentionally pour into the lives of our children.
In addition to the countless teachable moments available as we do life together, dad school is structured time to proactively pass on certain life lessons.
For example, we might plan for regular time one weeknight or on the weekend to share our thoughts on theology, the nature of God, and the spiritual life. We might also discuss social thought and relevant issues of public policy, interpreting current events and processing the deeper meanings in the entertainment and media we consume. Likewise, we might teach on handling money, what it means to be a man or a woman, how to steward our sexual selves, and basic communication and conflict resolution skills.
To be sure, the curriculum can go on in infinite different directions, tailored to the particular needs of our family and the issues we’re facing.
In the end, the point is simply not to neglect our responsibility in the teaching and training of our children. There are some lessons we cannot defer to others.
Use dad school as an intentional way to pour into the lives of your children and guiding them in the way they should go.
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