The journal · original insights by theme
Fatherhood, family & legacy
The words, memories and lessons we choose to pass forward.
Make room for someone else’s story
Choose an optional prompt, listen and keep their words separate from your later reflections.
Open the free family conversation worksheet →These are draft editorial groupings for review, not Matt’s original sequence. Each insight keeps its source number and exact wording; entries remain in source order within each theme. Read the complete original list in order.
This personal collection includes opinions, incomplete notes and unverified attributions. Categorisation does not validate a claim or turn it into professional advice.
20 original insights · Draft grouping
- No. 040
A fit body, a calm mind and a house full of love are things that are earned.
- No. 066
15293 days alive as of 2nd Feb 2024.
- No. 083
Your children are a light that helps you see a bright future.
- No. 084
Great parents give their children two things, Roots + Wings.
- No. 085
In co-parenting, always make child centred decisions, that are solution focused.
- No. 127
The 5 most important things to learn as a kid I dreamt up talking with the kids the other day: 1) Listening and understanding 2) Using Communication 3) Being Kind 4) Sharing - (interrelation with the skills of being able to see someone else’s perceptions) 5) & Being Genuine with others and Yourself (includes honesty, respect, integrity, living in alignment with one’s values and beliefs) *note: upgrade the 7 habits of happy kids)
- No. 142
For kids - can only be silly when you feel safe.
- No. 172
At the time in which you need the information, you cannot be told or receive the information at all. particularly if coming from your parents.
- No. 180
Looking with your 2 digital screens in the forest is good for you and you should do it. (Benny age 7)
- No. 188
Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.
- No. 207
looking at views is good for you. (Benny)
- No. 256
Look for a life story.
- No. 259
Active listening - (Your children) before you give your response, just repeat it back to them and listen and think about the feelings they’re giving you behind the words.
- No. 260
If you have active listening with your kids and time then you get bonding and the kids are more likely to choose your values when they’re bonded with you.
- No. 261
Don’t rescue your children all the time when they make a mistake, parents generally do way too much for their children and they steal their self-esteem. They’re building their own self-esteem by stealing theirs.
- No. 282
Do you know how kids spell Love….TIME.
- No. 352
When dealing with your kids listen louder than you talk to them.
- No. 400
Being liked is temporary, but being understood is a legacy.
- No. 401
Take shit from the future and bring it to the now - Brett H - said in the back of my definition of receiving information from the past, like these insights, carrying them along your journey in the present, to grow, collect and expand on the wisdom and transmit it into the future (our kids)
- No. 419
We train children by what we pay attention too .