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Have your kids ever ignored you? Disobeyed you? These can be challenging moments for dads. We all want our kids to listen to us. What happens if they stop? In this episode of the All Pro Dad Podcast, host Ted Lowe is joined by BJ Foster and Bobby Lewis to dive into how dads can become the kind of people their kids trust and listen to consistently.
Why This Matters
Kids are far more likely to embrace a father's wisdom when they trust his character.
Key Takeaways
1. Credibility is built through consistency.
Kids notice when our actions don't match our words. Living out what we teach earns trust, while hypocrisy quickly destroys it.
2. Influence grows when we listen more than we lecture.
Children are much more receptive when they feel heard. Asking thoughtful questions and genuinely listening often teaches more than lengthy speeches.
3. Trust is strengthened by honesty, humility, and conviction.
Being truthful, admitting when we're wrong, holding healthy boundaries, and respectfully engaging differing viewpoints make dads the kind of leaders kids naturally want to follow.
Practical Tips for Dads
1. Listen before you teach.
Ask questions, seek to understand your child's perspective, and resist the urge to immediately lecture or solve every problem.
2. Live what you believe.
Be consistent, tell the truth—even in small matters—and admit mistakes quickly. Authenticity builds long-term influence.
3. Hold firm convictions with humility.
Maintain clear boundaries, stay open to learning, and disagree respectfully without dismissing your child's thoughts or concerns.
Important Episode Timestamps
[00:00] How Do You Become Someone Your Kids Actually Want to Learn From?
[00:34] What Teens Think About Journalists and What That Means for Dads
[02:35] Thing to Avoid #1: Being Inconsistent
[04:37] Thing to Avoid #2: Being Dogmatic
[08:22] Thing to Avoid #3: Lecturing More Than You Listen
[09:35] Thing to Avoid #4: Not Holding Boundaries
[11:00] Thing to Avoid #5: Being Dismissive
[13:36] Thing to Avoid #6: Lying to Your Kids
[14:44] What to Do Instead: Listen, Learn, and Disagree With Respect
[18:07] This Week's Pro Move
Ask your kids their opinion on something important this week. Listen without correcting or lecturing and see what you learn from them.
Sponsor:
The All Pro Dad Podcast is proudly brought to you by Family First, a nonprofit dedicated to equipping parents with resources to strengthen their families. Learn more at FamilyFirst.net.
All Pro Dad Resources:
Episode 61 – What Problems Do Kids Face Today That We Didn't?
Episode 95 – What Challenges Is Generation Alpha Facing?
Dustin Colquitt: 5 Lessons Our Kids Should Learn From Us
7 Things Your Daughter Needs to Learn From You
5 Reasons Your Kids Should Learn From Your Mistakes
Connect with Us:
Ted Lowe on LinkedIn
Bobby Lewis on LinkedIn
BJ Foster on LinkedIn
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