Herb comes home from work, and young Mark and Grace are eager to go outside and play. He shakes them loose from his arms and legs for a minute so he can change clothes, and he takes the mail upstairs with him.

His five-year-old son follows, talking about what happened that day, overflowing with comments that draw from both reality and make-believe. It’s too much for Herb to follow. “Mark,” he says, “can’t you see that I’m trying to read the mail? Let’s talk about this later.”

Back downstairs, Herb’s wife is nowhere to be found. And that’s fine—after an entire day with the kids, she needs to get away. So Herb fixes a plate of leftovers and sits in front of a game on TV. On cue, two-year-old Grace approaches, wanting handouts. Soon Mark enters the room. “Ready to go play outside, Daddy?”

Little Grace hears the word “outside” and excitedly runs to look for her shoes. “Pretty soon, Son,” Herb answers. As he eats, Herb gets involved in the game on TV. As soon as he’s done eating, Mark asks, “Now, Daddy?” Herb’s voice begins to show his impatience: “What did I tell you? We’ll do it in a little while.” His eyes dart back to the game.

Now Mark starts whining—despite his father’s admonitions to talk calmly. Grace returns with her shoes on the wrong feet and joins the chorus. Mark’s pleas get more and more desperate, leading to an all-out tantrum: “But Daddy, you said we could go outside! When!?”

Now Herb’s frustrated and angry about missing the dialogue on his show. “I don’t want to hear another word about it,” he says. “I said we’ll go outside. Just be patient!”

Herb did take them outside several minutes later, but the tone for the evening was already set. He was overly critical and short with them, and any wrong move brought more threats and harsh words. Their “fun time” outside was anything but fun.

Now, let’s step back for a minute. It’s common for fathers to admit struggling with anger, and every dad is different, but surely many dads can identify with Herb’s experience. Herb’s a good dad, but he let himself get off track and spiral out of control. Why did it happen?

So often, frustration and anger start as an inner conflict between priorities. 

You want to do one thing, but family responsibilities pull you another way. During that battle between what you want to do and what you know you should do, the negative emotions continue to grow.

In the example, Herb expressed the negative emotions as threats and harsh words. But if a dad doesn’t recognize his error and commit to change, the bad habits will escalate. Being short with a daughter could lead to screaming at her for little mistakes, or making cruel, demeaning statements, or even physical abuse.

Children will misbehave. They will disobey. They will whine and throw fits. But they do not cause their father’s response.

With right priorities in place, there’s no inner conflict and much less likelihood of negative emotions when relating to our kids. The decision has already been made: we’re going to do what’s best for them.

And they can’t interrupt us because they are the main focus of our attention.

Now how do you make this happen? During moments of clarity—when you feel conviction about making changes in your life or becoming a better dad—write it down or make a mental note about how you’ll live out your priority and commitment.

When do you tend to get angry with your kids? What actions can you commit to that will make a difference? Maybe, like Herb, you need a specific plan that will help you transition more smoothly from work to home. Or maybe it means turning off distractions like the TV or computer. Or asking your wife for help.

Dads, we’ll never be perfect or always under control. But with a real desire to change, we can truly put first things first and multiply the good times with our kids.

Action Points & Questions for Reflection and Discussion

• What’s your typical after-work routine? Do you take time to check in with your kids or do something with them?
• To what extent do you identify with Herb? How often do these kinds of evenings happen in your home?
• Do you know what triggers frustration and anger with your kids? Anticipate the times when it could happen and plan NOW to respond in a better way.
• How do you view your fathering responsibilities? Do you dread them or look forward to them?
• The article above refers to “right priorities.” What are your priorities? Are your routines consistent with them?
• Talk through your top priorities with your kids’ mom or someone else you know well. Discuss possible adjustments that might have positive results for your kids and your family.