Episode Details

In this Friday short episode of The Craft of Fatherhood, Ned dives into a powerful but often overlooked concept in parenting: perspective. As kids grow into teens and young adults, fatherhood shifts from simply making decisions to guiding thinking and shaping character.

Ned challenges dads to move beyond just asking for their child’s “opinion” and instead seek to truly understand their perspective—not to always change the outcome, but to better understand the heart and reasoning behind it. He emphasizes that while fathers still carry the responsibility to make hard decisions, growth often comes through asking better questions instead of giving immediate answers.

He breaks this down into three practical approaches:

1. Step into your child’s shoes and understand what they want and why
2. Ask clarifying questions and invite mutual openness to each other’s perspective
3. Focus on character over control, asking: Who are they becoming through this?

Through real-life examples, Ned highlights the importance of allowing space for failure within the safety of the home, building trust so kids will return to you when things go wrong.

The episode closes with a simple but powerful challenge:

Create intentional, distraction-free moments to ask your kids about their perspective on everyday topics—not just when there’s a conflict or decision to make.

This is an episode about shifting from control to connection, from authority alone to intentional influence—and raising kids who think, process, and grow into who they’re meant to become.

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1. Got a son ready to enter manhood? He needs a rite of passage. Check out Genesis - a Rite of Passage by Rise Up Kings
2. Order The Adventure of Fatherhood children's books here
3. Check out the TEDx

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1. Want to learn more about The Adventure of Fatherhood?
2. https://www.adventureoffatherhood.com/
3. https://www.rebelandcreate.com/

Each week Ned sits down with a dad and asks him to open up his field notes and share with other men who find themselves on the Adventure of Fatherhood.

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