How to Embarrass Your Child in the Most Loving Way Possible

There's something magical about watching your child learn and grow.
I discovered this earlier this week at my oldest daughter, Ruby's swimming lesson.

While Ruby glides through the water with a few other kids, I pace the poolside, up and down, following her progress like a coach on duty. It’s not a new thing; it's been about two months since she started, but seeing her weekly improvement makes me proud.

During this week's 30-minute lesson, a familiar face approached me. Her child attends a different class, and she curiously asked, "Are you a swimming coach?" When I said no, she wondered why I paced up and down watching Ruby when she already had a coach in the water.

I just smiled and kept walking. But it made me look around at the other parents.
Among the 30-plus adults scattered around the pool, I noticed that about 90% were hunched, phone zombies, doom-scrolling (or maybe on calls).

I hadn't realised I was the only parent fully immersed in watching my child swim.
Surely, I can’t be the outlier in this.

This experience is even more rewarding because whenever Ruby completes a few laps or takes a breather, she looks up to find me.
And what do I get in return?
No, she isn’t telling me to go sit down (for now).
I get a giant, beaming smile.

Ruby’s never said whether she wants me walking the sidelines. But that smile? That smile says everything.

If the reasons for my behaviour aren't obvious, allow me to share.

Why do I do It

First, almost everything in our lives is finite.
We only have a certain number of opportunities to experience them. For some things, that's perfectly fine. But when it comes to our children, it's heartbreakingly true.

The number of times I'll watch Ruby at swimming training is limited. I already know there won't be enough of these moments. Eventually, she might stop swimming, or work commitments might prevent me from attending every session.

Reason one is simple: I’ll miss these when they’re gone.

Second, and perhaps more importantly, Ruby will remember this.
Not now, perhaps not even in a few years, but later in life, she'll look back and remember her dad was present. She'll recall that he was there for something as ordinary as a weekly 30-minute swimming lesson.

She will remember feeling noticed and loved.
And that, my friends, is worth looking like an overeager swimming coach pacing the sidelines.

I make a conscious effort to be present for my children in every way possible.
It benefits both them and me.
There is absolutely no downside to this mindset.
None whatsoever!

Try This: Practising Presence

Being present is something I've been actively practising. I make small, conscious decisions throughout my week that help me achieve this.
If you’re looking to be a little more present this week, here are a few things that might help:

• Schedule uninterrupted play time 
  Set aside 15–30 minutes daily without distractions - no phone, emails, or multitasking. Let them lead.
  Whether it’s LEGO, dress-up, or digging in the garden - just be all in.

• Create tech-free zones (or times) 
  Dinner is sacred in our house - no phones, no TV, just food and talk.
  It’s a tiny ritual, but it says: you matter, and I’m listening. My wife loves asking, “What was your favourite part of the day?”

• Ritual of Connection 
  Read a story, cuddle, and discuss the best part of your day.
  Kids don’t always remember what you say, but they remember how they feel at bedtime.

In a world that seems designed to distract us, being present is a radical act of love.
The moments we show up, really show up, might feel ordinary now. But they’re quietly becoming the foundation of their childhood memories.
And maybe, our most meaningful legacy.

I’ll close with this quote from actor Mark Webber
"99.9% of being a good parent is just being present with your child. On the flipside of that, 100% of being happy is just being present."

Poddles of the Week

How to Raise a Sovereign Child - Naval Ravikant & Aaron Stupple - Tim Ferriss Show

Essentially, how to raise a self-directed, internally motivated child. Here are three ideas from the pod, but the whole thing is fascinating.

Follow the spark, not the schedule 
When your child shows interest in something, try to notice that spark and fan the flames. Our job isn't to force predetermined paths, but to watch for what lights them up and become their supporter.

Happiness isn't just nice, it's necessary 
There's a belief that suffering builds character and happiness makes kids soft. But think about when you're at your creative best - usually when you're enjoying yourself.

Be a guide, not a dictator 
The more we try to control our kids, the more resistance we create. Instead, ask: "How can I help them navigate this themselves?" This means shifting from "because I said so" to "let me help you understand why."

Our job isn't to mould them into what we think they should be, but to help them become who they truly are.

Health Corner - Save Your Sleep

I am good at a lot of things. Sleep, however, I’m pretty terrible.
I’ve read books, listened to podcasts and now do ALL the things to help improve my sleep.
I’ll save the extended details for another edition, but for now, here’s my sleep stack. I’ve been taking this nightly for a few months, and it definitely makes a difference.

Falling back to sleep when I wake in the middle of the night has dramatically improved.

Steel My Stack

• Magnesium Threonate (300-400mg)

• Theanine (200-300mg)

• Ashwaganda (30-400mg)

• Apigenin (50mg)

Quote I’m Vibing

And, that’s all, folks!

Thank you for reading the latest edition of my newsletter.
As always, comments and feedback are welcome.

And, please don’t be shy to share this with a friend or family member. Each week, I’ll share something that helps us find balance.

Peace, love and growth.
Jazza

PS – Fun Fact That’s Barely a Fact:

I work with a small, select group of founders and business owners. You know, the ones who are smart enough to realise they can’t do it all alone but still stubborn enough to try.

Some are looking for a co-pilot to stop white-knuckling the controls, and others want coaching to achieve that elusive thing called “balance” (yes, it exists… allegedly).

I’m fully booked at the moment, which sounds very cool and exclusive, because it is. But if you’re the kind of person who plans slightly ahead of their next meltdown, reach out for a 15-minute chat.
We’ll see if you’re weird and brilliant enough to join the list.

Go on. Tell me what keeps you up at night (besides questionable lifestyle choices).
Let’s Chat