LINEAGE

Timeless wisdom lived through fatherhood

DAILY PRACTICE

IFÉ

Deep Care

Story

There is a scene in The Little Prince book. The little prince meets a fox who asks him for something unexpected: "Tame me." The fox says.

The prince doesn't understand. The fox explains that to tame someone is to create a bond. It doesn't happen all at once. "Come back tomorrow," the fox says. "Sit a little closer than today."

The next day, return again. Little by little, two strangers become important to one another.
Before they part, the fox leaves him with one final thought: "It is the time you have spent for your rose that makes your rose so important."

Children don't become close to their fathers because they share the same home. They become close because, day after day, their father keeps returning.

In the Yoruba tradition of West Africa, the word Ifẹ́ can describe love, deep care, affection. Deep care as something that becomes visible through relationship. Many fathers believe their children already know they love them. Most do.

The question is different. Do your children experience that love often enough to feel at home with you?

Shift

Deep care is built through the moments we keep returning to.

Action (Today, With Your Children)

Choose one moment today.

Sit beside your child without trying to improve, teach, or direct anything.

Give them your full attention for a few quiet minutes. Then return tomorrow.

And the next day.

The bond your children remembers is built one return at a time.

You’re receiving this as part of a daily fatherhood practice

Thank you for being here

PASS IT FORWARD

They can suscribe and obtain this daily

CONTINUE THE PRACTICE

One ancient word. One daily practice