Parents, let’s talk about something we all do but rarely admit: we rush. We rush through breakfast, rush through school drop-offs, rush through bedtime stories, and yes, we even rush through those precious moments with our kids that we’ll one day look back on and wish we’d savored. And guess what? Our kids notice. Oh, they definitely notice.

Case in point: the other day, I decided to play a little game with my boys, Hari and Max. I asked them to finish the sentence, “I don’t like it when Daddy…” Now, in my head, I was expecting something like, “I don’t like it when Daddy makes me eat broccoli” or “I don’t like it when Daddy says no to screen time.” But no. What I got was a loud, enthusiastic, and very unified response:

“I don’t like it when Daddy shouts and rushes too much!”

Ouch.

At first, I laughed. I mean, come on, it’s kind of funny when your kids call you out like that. But then it hit me: they weren’t just being cheeky. They were telling me something important. Something I needed to hear.

The Rush Hour Dad
Let’s be real: life is busy. Between work, school, extracurriculars, and the never-ending pile of laundry, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly running on a treadmill set to “ludicrous speed.” But here’s the thing: when we rush, we miss things. We miss the little moments that make parenting so magical. We miss the chance to really connect with our kids. And, as Hari and Max so eloquently pointed out, we also become shouty.

Now, I’m not proud of the shouty part. But I’ll admit it: when I’m rushing to get out the door and the boys are taking approximately 47 years to put on their shoes, my patience tends to wear thinner than a slice of budget-brand cheese. And yeah, I raise my voice. I hurry them along. I become that dad—the one who’s more focused on the clock than on the little humans standing in front of him.

The Wake-Up Call
Hari and Max’s response was a wake-up call. It made me realize that my rushing wasn’t just stressing me out—it was stressing them out too. And honestly, that’s not the kind of dad I want to be. I don’t want to be the dad who’s always in a hurry, always barking orders, always too busy to slow down and just be with my kids.

So, I made a decision: I’m going to try to slow down. I’m going to take a deep breath before I shout. I’m going to give the boys an extra five minutes to put on their shoes (even if it kills me). And I’m going to remind myself that the world won’t end if we’re a little late.

The Lesson in the Chaos
Here’s the thing about kids: they’re brutally honest. They don’t sugarcoat things. If they don’t like something, they’ll tell you. And while it might sting a little (okay, a lot), it’s also a gift. Because their honesty gives us the chance to do better. To be better.

So, to all the parents out there who feel like they’re constantly rushing: take it from me. Slow down. Take a breath. Listen to what your kids are trying to tell you—even if it’s in the form of a shouted sentence completion game.

And if your kids ever hit you with a “I don’t like it when Daddy…” moment, don’t get defensive. Don’t laugh it off (okay, maybe laugh a little). Just listen. Because sometimes, the most important lessons come from the littlest voices.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go apologize to Hari and Max for all the rushing and shouting. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll let them take their sweet time putting on their shoes tomorrow.

Love from Dad (and recovering rush-hour addict) 🐢✨