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Rest Is Not Failure
In this first episode of Growing Dad, I explore the idea that rest is not failure, whether you’re learning to garden or learning how to be a dad. Just like the garden, we need seasons of pause, stillness, and recovery to grow well.
Self-love & gratitude
We start by talking about rest and why it feels so uncomfortable for so many of us. In winter, the garden rests without apology. There’s no growth to prove, no output to show. As dads, we often forget to allow ourselves that same grace. I share a moment where slowing down felt difficult but was exactly what was needed.
Inner peace & positivity
A quiet winter garden can feel empty, but it’s actually full of calm. No noise. No demands. Just stillness. I reflect on how January at home can mirror this, slower mornings, fewer expectations, and how peace often arrives when we stop forcing progress.
Healing & letting go
Winter is a time for clearing out dead growth. Pruning plants, but also pruning unrealistic expectations of ourselves. This section looks at letting go of last year’s guilt, parenting mistakes, and the things we didn’t quite get right, and understanding that growth doesn’t come from self-criticism.
Relationships & connections
With more time indoors, winter creates space for quieter connections. Less rushing. More presence. We talk about how strong relationships aren’t built in big moments, but in shared silences, conversations on the sofa, and simply being there.
Mindset & self-awareness
A dormant garden is not a dead garden. In the same way, a tired dad is not a failing one. This part reframes rest as productive, reminding us that recovery is part of the process, not a step backwards.
Future self & growth
Finally, we look ahead. Seeds sit quietly beneath frozen soil, preparing for what’s to come. January is the same for us. A month that lays the foundations for the year ahead, even when nothing seems to be happening yet.
If you’re feeling tired, stuck, or behind this winter, this episode is your permission to pause. Growth is still happening, even when you can’t see it.
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By Lee Connelly | The Children's Gardening CoachIn this first episode of Growing Dad, I explore the idea that rest is not failure, whether you’re learning to garden or learning how to be a dad. Just like the garden, we need seasons of pause, stillness, and recovery to grow well.
Self-love & gratitude
We start by talking about rest and why it feels so uncomfortable for so many of us. In winter, the garden rests without apology. There’s no growth to prove, no output to show. As dads, we often forget to allow ourselves that same grace. I share a moment where slowing down felt difficult but was exactly what was needed.
Inner peace & positivity
A quiet winter garden can feel empty, but it’s actually full of calm. No noise. No demands. Just stillness. I reflect on how January at home can mirror this, slower mornings, fewer expectations, and how peace often arrives when we stop forcing progress.
Healing & letting go
Winter is a time for clearing out dead growth. Pruning plants, but also pruning unrealistic expectations of ourselves. This section looks at letting go of last year’s guilt, parenting mistakes, and the things we didn’t quite get right, and understanding that growth doesn’t come from self-criticism.
Relationships & connections
With more time indoors, winter creates space for quieter connections. Less rushing. More presence. We talk about how strong relationships aren’t built in big moments, but in shared silences, conversations on the sofa, and simply being there.
Mindset & self-awareness
A dormant garden is not a dead garden. In the same way, a tired dad is not a failing one. This part reframes rest as productive, reminding us that recovery is part of the process, not a step backwards.
Future self & growth
Finally, we look ahead. Seeds sit quietly beneath frozen soil, preparing for what’s to come. January is the same for us. A month that lays the foundations for the year ahead, even when nothing seems to be happening yet.
If you’re feeling tired, stuck, or behind this winter, this episode is your permission to pause. Growth is still happening, even when you can’t see it.