From Robot Mode to Grateful Dad:
From Robot Mode to Grateful Dad: How a 10-Minute Reset Changed My Entire Day
There are days when being a dad feels like sprinting on a treadmill you didn’t start. The pace isn’t yours, the schedule isn’t yours, and if you’re honest — the joy doesn’t always feel like it’s yours either.
That was me the other day. Fully in dad mode. Not in the cute social media way — in the real, non-stop, one-thing-after-another kind of way.
I was doing the post-noon routine, then the kiddos and parents quiet time management, then the potty reminders, the extra play time while mommy puts baby to sleep, the snack requests, the bath time, the “why does the baby have scissors?” chaos — and just when I’d think, maybe I can sit down for a second, I’d hear, “Love? Can you help with something?”
It felt like robot mode. Execute. Breathe. Execute again.
Even the breaths didn’t feel restful. They felt like pit stops — too short to restore anything real. And when I did get the rare 2–3 minutes to myself, I wasn’t resting. I was bracing — ready to be needed again. That kind of pace doesn’t just wear out your body. It wears out your heart.
And I started to feel it.
That creeping frustration. That quiet voice inside saying: I just want a break.
When I Finally Said It Out Loud
Eventually, I did something that helped.
I said it. Out loud. “Hey, I need a break.”
It wasn’t dramatic or demanding. It was honest. And if I’m being real, even saying it was a little hard. Because part of me thought, I’m helping my wife by helping the kids, plus I'm their dad — I should be able to just push through.
But when I said it, something beautiful happened: my wife gave me that break.
Just 10 minutes. After the kids’ bath, she stepped in. And I stepped out — took a shower, reset, and breathed...for real.
And in those ten minutes, something unexpected happened: gratitude started rising.
The Shift: From Frustration to Gratitude
I remembered something I’d heard — that gratitude is one of the fastest ways to interrupt the spiral of frustration. And so I started naming things out loud to myself while drying off.
Things like:
I’m grateful for the privilege to be in the home.
I’m grateful my kids are healthy and full of life.
I’m grateful that I get to serve them.
I’m grateful my wife and I can tag team.
I’m grateful for the kind of life we get to live.
I thought about how my daughter has been so amazing with her behavior and attitude the past couple of days. About how my son lit up when he found his missing toy. Those little moments are easy to miss when you're just trying to survive the day — but they’re priceless.
That short list didn’t take long. But it shifted my whole mindset.
Because the truth is — it really is a privilege to serve your family.
It doesn’t always feel like it in the moment. But it is.
And when I stepped back into dad mode after that breather? I wasn’t drained.
I was satisfied.
Why That Reset Worked (And What It Taught Me)
This was a reminder that the pillars in my life are connected.
In my Five Pillars Alignment Course, the first two pillars are Faith and Self-Care — before Family, Finances, or Passion.
That’s not accidental.
When I let my faith lead, I turn to gratitude.
When I embrace self-care, I return to my family full instead of empty.
Had I skipped both? I’d have likely ended the day bitter and withdrawn. I’ve done it before. But this time — I paused. I prayed. I reflected. And I came back better.
So when I chose to re-engage instead of opt out — to tell my wife, “Go finish what you were doing. I’ve got this.” — it didn’t feel like martyrdom. It felt like leadership.
In fact, here’s what I’m learning on days like this:
Rest doesn’t always mean a long break. Sometimes, it’s 10 minutes with intention.
Speaking up is part of leadership. You don’t have to burn out to prove you care.
Gratitude resets your mind. Start listing out loud what God’s given you and your emotions will follow.
Faith fuels perspective. It helps you see your role as a blessing, not a curse.
Self-care is not selfish. It’s spiritual obedience that enables relational strength.
I’m not perfect at this. I’m learning it in the trenches, sometimes still dripping from the reset shower. But I’m committed to growing.
To the Dad Reading This On His 5-Minute Break
If that’s you — if you’re scrolling during your only real pause of the day — I want to sit you down for a second.
You’re hunched over. Tired. Your mind’s racing.
Let me put a hand on your shoulder.
Let me speak this into you like a coach in the corner:
You’ve got this.
You’re not broken. You’re not failing. You’re just in the thick of something that matters.
So take this moment. Breathe.
Maybe even name three things you’re grateful for.
Then get back in there, champ. Not because you have to. But because you get to.
You’re going to feel amazing at the end of the day when everyone’s taken care of — and you’ll know you led from love.
Want to Go Deeper?
This story is exactly why I built the Dad Mode: Activated 30-Day Challenge Journal.
It’s designed to help you shift your mindset, reset your perspective, and practice gratitude in the middle of real dad life.
If you’ve ever felt like you’re going through the motions — stuck in robot mode — this journal will help you reconnect with what matters.
Give yourself a tool that works as hard as you do.
