We got a new dog.

Bonus points if you reread the first sentence to the classic by Huey Lewis & The News.

Margot is thirteen weeks old. 50% adorable. 50% chaos. 100% already in charge.

She’s just starting to grasp the concept of a leash. Which, for her at the beginning, meant planting all four paws into the earth in an act of defiance. No tugs or treats could convince her to budge.

But the stairs?

The stairs were her Everest.

Going up? No problem.

Coming down? Cue the crisis.

She planted herself (anyone else sensing a pattern?) like she was at the edge of a cliff only she could see. Front paw hovers… she trembles… and retreats.

And in those tiny moments of fear, I saw something familiar.

The Parenting Parallel

I’ve seen that look before. Just not on something with fur and one of my socks in her mouth.

I’ve seen it in my kids:

* My youngest before his first swim lesson.

* My middle as she stood outside a friend’s door, not sure if she should knock.

* My oldest staring at the soccer field from the sidelines, unsure if he belonged.

That flicker of hesitation. That silent question: Can I really do this?

Truth be told, I’ve rushed those moments.

Pulled too hard on the metaphorical leash.

Filled the silence with too many words.

Tried to fix the fear before they were ready.

But Margo reminded me:

Patience is leadership. Patience is parenting.

The kind that says: I see you. I believe in you. I’m right here.

The kind that lets someone catch their breath and take the next step when they’re ready, not when we are.

Every Step Counts (Even the Wobbly Ones)

Eventually, Margot found her courage.

One step. Then another. Then she collapsed like, that’s enough heroism for one day.

Through this experience, I’ve been reminded that progress isn’t linear and confidence doesn’t arrive fully installed.

Rather, we make progress and build confidence through tiny, shaky updates to our internal operating systems.

Whether it’s leash training or life lessons, we lead best when we honor the pace of growth instead of our fantasy of it.

Challenge of the Week: Use the Driven Dads F.A.S.T. Framework

When your kid freezes at the top of the stairs, on the field, or before texting that friend back, remember:

F.A.S.T.Focus: Help them lock in on the next small move.And Start: Encourage one tiny action. That’s it.Tweak: Celebrate the heck out of their progress and help them tweak their approach.

We can’t be the sole builders of confidence for our children.

Instead, our best path is to create the space where they can build it themselves.

Because sometimes, our quiet presence is the staircase rail they didn’t know they needed.

Cheers,

Will

P.S. Yes, I carried Margot down the last three steps. No shame.

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