Fatherhood Friday

Why I’m Trading Presents for Presence (And Why It’s Harder Than I Thought)

Author

Geoffrey Griffin
February 28, 2025

Are the piles of presents under the tree really what our kids need—or are we just chasing a quick dopamine hit?

I’ve been wrestling with this question as my wife and I try to trade gifts for experiences with our kids. Spoiler: It’s way harder than it sounds.

From childhood memories of Cheez Whiz snacks and road trips to midnight streamer-hanging for birthdays, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about giving my kids more of me and less ‘stuff.’

Join me as I stumble through the journey of creating lasting family memories—one awkward campfire story at a time.

Is pushing kids to get good grades the fastest way to raise successful children?

Surprisingly, the answer is NO.

Focusing solely on academics makes up just a small part of what truly nurtures a child's self-belief and independence.

So what's the real game changer in raising unstoppable kids?

It’s all about getting them to learn critical life skills.

Did you know skills like problem-solving, creativity, financial literacy and resilience make the difference between those who succeed and those who struggle later in life?

This is way more impactful than just pushing for good grades.

Unfortunately, many parents waste hundreds of dollars every month on tutors and academic programs focusing only on rote learning.

While adding tremendous amounts of stress to young kids.

Smart parents are discovering this simple solution to spark their child's fire for self-driven achievement, raising confident leaders fast.

Focused Wonder

The purpose of Focused Wonder is to foster connection and open communication with your kids and spouse. This section offers simple, focused questions designed to spark meaningful dialogue—whether at the dinner table, during a car ride, or at bedtime. Use these questions to build trust, curiosity, and laughter in your relationships.

What’s a way you failed today?

Why Ask This Question:

Asking about failure can help kids see mistakes as a natural and valuable part of the learning process. It shifts the focus from perfection to growth, encouraging a mindset where setbacks are seen as opportunities to improve. When we celebrate failure, we teach our kids resilience, adaptability, and the courage to try again.

Follow-Up Questions:

  1. What did you learn from that experience?

    • This encourages your child to reflect on the lesson hidden within the mistake, reinforcing the idea that failure is a stepping stone to growth.

  2. How could you approach it differently next time?

    • This question promotes problem-solving and forward-thinking. It helps your child build confidence and develop strategies for future challenges.

Bonus Tip:

Share your own failures too! When kids see that adults make mistakes and learn from them, it normalizes failure as part of everyday life. It also strengthens the bond of trust and openness between you.

Would you like me to add this section to the end of your article, or do you prefer keeping it as a standalone idea for future content? Let me know!

Focus in Motion

Curated videos to help make you think, to motivate, or to just laugh.