Today we’re talking about something that’s been itching at me for years:
We are not moving at the pace of childhood.
We are expecting children to move at our pace — the adult pace, the productivity pace, the overstimulated world pace — and then wondering why behavior is exploding.
In this episode, I unpack:
Why childhood is inherently slow
How rushing creates behavioral problems
The difference between micro pace (the hike) and macro pace (your life)
Why “I don’t have time” is showing up everywhere
Velcro shoes, sippy cups, and lost life skills
Why simplifying your words changes everything
Why repeating yourself 50 times takes longer than slowing down once
How cooperation increases when you match their pace
The environment → behavior connection
Why 80/20 is the real goal
How overscheduling is stealing childhood
If your kid is:
“Not listening”
Melting down constantly
Moving painfully slow
Struggling with life skills
Or fighting you every morning
You may not have a discipline problem.
You may have a pace problem.
Childhood is slow.
It is curious.
It is stop-and-look-at-the-ant slow.
It is puddle-jumping slow.
It is shoe-tying frustration slow.
And when we try to override that with adult urgency, kids respond.
Slow down doesn’t mean do nothing.
It means simplify.
It means speak less.
It means meet them where they are.
Try this weekend:
Go on a walk.
Let your child lead.
Feel how uncomfortable it is.
Then notice what shifts.
As always — put your phone down.
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