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Everything I've Written
Fifty-plus posts on being a dad, sorted by what you're going through.
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How to be a good dad: real talk from an imperfect father
When my kids were little, I had a three-times rule: if I had to repeat myself twice, my voice changed on the third. It got louder, sharper, and sounded a lot like my father’s. There was no specific reason for my reaction. It could be a missed bedtime, late for school, clean up your room. If it is something I wanted done, and it wasn’t being done, then that was a problem. My kid finally would do it, with a lowered head and no smile. That would follow me for the balance of the

Mark Szkudlarek
Aug 410 min read


Dad Guilt: Why You Feel It and How to Let It Go
I was on a call with someone earlier this week and my son came to my home office. We had glass in the doors, so we made eye contact. I still had 10 minutes on a 30-minute call, so I waved to him that I needed a few more minutes. When I got done, I left my office and looked for him. He had already left. Most likely, he just wanted to tell me he was heading out with friends for lunch and doing some shopping. But I couldn’t take two minutes to stop…make him the priority…and list

Mark Szkudlarek
Jul 306 min read


Dad Mental Health: A Real Father's Guide to Staying Sane
I didn't think dad mental health applied to me until I found myself sitting in the at a stop light, it turned green, but it took the driver behind me and his horn to make me realize. Nothing was wrong on paper. Great kids. A fun job. A wife who put up with me. But I was running on empty and pretending I wasn't. This is a real father's guide to staying sane, written by a dad who got it wrong for a while before he got some of it right. I'm not a therapist and I'm not a doctor.

Mark Szkudlarek
Jul 217 min read


The best dads create a BUDGET!
I used to believe some real myths about debt and credit cards. Then I found Dave Ramsey's books, and it changed how our family handles money.

Mark Szkudlarek
Jul 2, 20201 min read


The best dads stay at HOME!
An unusual season forced our family to slow down, and it turned out to be one of the better things that happened to us. Here's what I hope we hold onto.

Mark Szkudlarek
Mar 19, 20201 min read


The best dads don't miss the DADDY DAUGHTER DANCE!
I have two boys, so I'll never know the father-daughter bond firsthand. But my brother-in-law's photo from his daughter's Daddy Daughter Dance says everything I need to know about it.

Mark Szkudlarek
Feb 4, 20201 min read
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