Episode 005 – The Thankless Dad: Serving When No One Notices

Episode 007 - Angry Dad? How Fathers Can Control Anger Without Hurting Their Families

Why do dads get so angry sometimes? And what’s really underneath it? In Episode 7 of Relatively Functional Dads, we have an honest conversation about anger in fatherhood, emotional health for dads, and how fathers can process frustration without hurting their kids or families. We talk about: * Why anger often hides deeper emotions like sadness, grief, fear, stress, or disappointment * Common triggers for dad anger and parenting frustration * Unrealistic expectations about fatherhood * How Christian dads can respond instead of react * Healthy ways to process emotions as a husband and father * Practical tools for emotional regulation in parenting Buddy also shares his “React vs Respond” prayer framework for handling anger in difficult parenting moments: * I feel… * I want to react by… * But the truth is… * So I will respond by… If you’re a dad struggling with anger, parenting stress, patience, or emotional control, this episode will encourage you and give you practical tools to become a more intentional father. Mentioned Books * Raising Emotionally Strong Boys: Tools Your Son Can Build On for Life - David Thomas [https://a.co/d/046HPCdz] * Raising Worry-Free Girls: Helping Your Daughter Feel Braver, Stronger, and Smarter in an Anxious World - Sissy Goff [https://a.co/d/0eRWewqG] Relatively Functional Dads is a podcast about Christian fatherhood, parenting, marriage, emotional health, and becoming the dads God calls us to be. Subscribe and join the conversation: Weekly Reflection: * What triggers anger most for you as a parent? * What helps you respond instead of react? Music Provided By: Derek McClardy [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jiQrrdfjqrPmakgD0b81E?si=hNNEP_PjTnKvjCEm6uZsvA] We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com [relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com]  Instagram: @relativelyfunctionaldads [https://www.instagram.com/relativelyfunctionaldads/]

Bonus Episode: The Pressure of Perfect Parenting

Why do dads feel like they’re failing, even when they’re doing their best? In this episode of the Relatively Functional Dads podcast, we sit down with our first guest, Morgan Selecman from the That’s A Win podcast, to talk about the pressure of perfect parenting and the hidden weight so many moms and dads carry every day. From parenting guilt and social media comparison to fear, shame, and perfectionism, we unpack why modern parenting can feel emotionally exhausting—and why your kids don’t actually need a perfect parent. They need a present one. This conversation is full of honest stories about marriage, fatherhood, motherhood, sleepless nights, emotional regulation, apologizing to your kids, and learning how to parent with grace instead of fear. In this episode, we discuss: * Why dads and moms feel pressure to be perfect parents * How parenting exposes impatience, insecurity, and fear * The impact of social media on modern parenting * Why repair matters more than perfection * How to apologize to your kids in a healthy way * What dads can do to support overwhelmed moms * Parenting stress, emotional regulation, and family leadership * How faith and dependence on God shape us as parents * Why parenting is about faithfulness, not performance If you’re a dad trying to lead your family well, grow spiritually, love your wife better, and become more intentional as a father, this podcast is for you. Relatively Functional Dads is a Christian fatherhood podcast focused on faith, fatherhood, marriage, spiritual growth, and raising a healthy family while following Jesus. Key Reminder: Your faithfulness matters more than your performance. Weekly Reflection: What fear might be underneath my need to “get parenting right”? What would change if I focused more on being faithful than being perfect? Episode Mentions: That’s A Win Podcast: Follow on Instagram @thatsawinpodcast  [https://www.instagram.com/thatsawinpodcast/] That’s A Win Podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/prioritizing-fitness-and-nutrition-in-motherhood/id1754460549?i=1000764231552] on Apple Podcast Decoding Boys, Expectations in Marriage + Fighting Bitterness (BONUS Interview w/ Lauren Earley) [https://youtu.be/ESTf8VK59Bw?si=mUreZYR9krAd_O77] Music Provided By: Derek McClardy [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jiQrrdfjqrPmakgD0b81E?si=hNNEP_PjTnKvjCEm6uZsvA] We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com [relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com]  Instagram: @relativelyfunctionaldads [https://www.instagram.com/relativelyfunctionaldads/]

Episode 006 - Your Kids Aren’t Interruptions… They’re Invitations

Our kids interrupt us all the time… but what if those moments matter more than we think? In this episode of the Relatively Functional Dads podcast, we talk about fatherhood, faith, and how the way we respond to interruptions is shaping our kids in real time. It’s easy to feel entitled to our time, especially when we’re tired, working, or finally getting a moment to breathe. But our kids don’t understand our intentions… they experience our actions. Are we pushing them away? Or are we seeing these moments as opportunities to love, lead, and be present? This is an honest conversation about being a dad, navigating real life, and learning how to show up better, even when it’s inconvenient. If you’re in the middle of raising young kids, balancing work and family, and trying to grow in your faith as a father… this one’s for you. Subscribe for more conversations on: * Christian fatherhood * Faith-based parenting * Biblical leadership in the home * Marriage and family life * Personal growth for dads * Real, honest dad life moments Challenge for the week: This week, treat interruptions as invitations. Ask yourself: “Is this a moment God is giving me to love my child well?” Respond with intention, not just reaction. We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com [relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com] Instagram: @relativelyfunctionaldads [https://www.instagram.com/relativelyfunctionaldads/] Music Provided By: Derek McClardy Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jiQrrdfjqrPmakgD0b81E?si=hNNEP_PjTnKvjCEm6uZsvA]

Episode 005 – The Thankless Dad: Serving When No One Notices

What happens when you give your best to your family… and no one seems to notice? In this episode, we’re getting real about something every dad feels but rarely talks about—the quiet frustration of serving without appreciation. We love our families, but if we’re honest, it’s easy to expect something in return… respect, acknowledgment, even just a simple “thank you.” And when we don’t get it? That’s when our hearts get exposed. We dive into the “invisible contract” many of us carry—the unspoken belief that if we serve, we should get something back—and how that mindset can quietly turn love into a transaction. More importantly, we talk about how to shift it. What if your service wasn’t about being noticed by your family… but about being seen by God? This episode will challenge your motives, encourage your heart, and help you serve from a place of identity—not expectation. In this episode: * Why we really serve our families * The hidden expectations that lead to frustration * How to break free from the “invisible contract” * What it looks like to serve like Christ—without recognition * Practical ways to serve with the right heart this week Challenge for the week: Where can you serve sacrificially… without anyone noticing? Episode Mentions: Habits of the Household: Practicing the Story of God in Everyday Family Rhythms – Justin Whitmel Earley [https://a.co/d/013qbEZ2] We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com [relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com] Music Provided By: Derek McClardy Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jiQrrdfjqrPmakgD0b81E?si=hNNEP_PjTnKvjCEm6uZsvA]

Episode 004 – Running on Empty: Creating Margin as a Dad

Tired… but not sure why? In this episode, we talk about the kind of exhaustion most dads are living with—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—and why it’s not all the same. There’s a difference between good fatigue and unhealthy exhaustion. If you don’t know which one you’re dealing with, you’ll keep trying to fix the wrong problem. In this episode, we cover: • The difference between meaningful fatigue and burnout • The 3 kinds of tired (and how to identify yours) • Why most dads are living with no margin • How margin impacts your patience, presence, and leadership at home • Simple, practical ways to create breathing room in your life • Why asking for help is essential—not optional Key Reminder: You can’t be a present dad if every second of your life is spoken for. Weekly Challenge: * Where am I tired because I have no margin? * Where am I tired from good work? * What is one thing I can remove this week to create margin? * How can I ask for help to create margin in my life? Episode Mentions: The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry – John Mark Comer – https://a.co/d/0iR5Yk3y [https://a.co/d/0iR5Yk3y] We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or send questions and feedback to relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com [relativelyfunctionaldads@gmail.com] Music Provided By: Derek McClardy Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jiQrrdfjqrPmakgD0b81E?si=hNNEP_PjTnKvjCEm6uZsvA]