Relaxing as a Parent Is Not What I Expected

A lesson I’ve recently learned is that parenting a toddler does not come with breaks. We have been on holiday with family and my first instinct was to relax and put my feet up. But parenting does not follow that same rhythm. It is ongoing and even small deviations quickly lead to chaos.

Children, especially toddlers, thrive on structure, routine, and clearly defined boundaries. Even when the setting changes, they still need consistency from us. In many ways, the more relaxed the environment, the more important those boundaries become.

I am curious how other dads handle this 🧐

👉Do you loosen rules on holidays or try to keep routines the same?

👉Have you noticed behaviour shift when structure slips?

👉What boundaries are non negotiable for you even when away from home?

👉How do you balance being present and relaxed while still holding the line?

Would love to hear what has worked and what has not especially with toddlers.

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