Foundation Father
Everyone should be aware of stoicism. But be careful of drinking too deeply of the draught of this philosophy. It’s not hard to see why the popularity of the Stoics is on the rise. For a generation that has been taught that everything is meaningless, stoicism offers some direction, purpose, and much-needed discipline. It calls […]
Being a man means doing the right thing even when you don’t feel like it. Even when you know you will suffer. And not complaining about it. This becomes an issue when problems are unexpected. If you have reserved your time for something, you treat it as your time, and any imposition upon that time […]
You should be able to have a conversation with anybody. If you think you are high above a certain class of people, or that you think thoughts too grave and mighty for the peasants, you’ll come off as an insufferable boor. And worse, you’ll attribute your unpopularity to your imagined greatness instead of your very […]
I read over 50 books last year. These are the 5 every father should read. 1. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis This is a repeat read for me and it will continue to be in a constant rotation. Lewis understands human behavior and the little justifications we have for our monstrous sin. I’m fond […]
I’m a big fan of homeschooling. That’s no secret. There is no better environment to tailor the education of your children to their specific needs. And you get to prepare them for the world before throwing them into the deep end. There are other good options, of course. Private schools and private tutors can be […]
Every boy needs a “do or die” moment to consider himself a man. His confidence depends upon it. This is one reason why rites of passages are so important. Each one of these moments prepares a man for the next one, and then the next one, and the next one. Strength and experience increase. It […]
You can tell when a little boy has had no masculine influence in his life. When I take my kids to parks that contain lots of other children, these emasculated boys stick out like a tone-deaf singer in a choir. After you know what to look for, that is. A boy who has been raised […]
While there are many attributes that a “good friend” will have, there is one that is critical. A lack of envy. A willingness to rejoice when others rejoice. When you have good news, you know exactly who you want to tell, because they let you be excited and they don’t try to one-up you. “Oh […]
Gravitas means you have weight. People tend to conflate it with somberness and over-seriousness, but the men who have the most gravitas usually have an equal amount of charisma. Gravitas means you have responsibilities that you take seriously, but you don’t take yourself seriously. You treat things with the tone and attention they deserve. Modern […]
If you want to be treated like a man, you have to act like a man. This means taking on responsibility without grumbling or complaining. And it means direct speech without any waffle words or detached irony. You aren’t owed respect. You have to earn it. I had to earn it from my father-in-law. I […]