Six minutes with my son

Reflections on Father’s Day, music, and a small moment

By Yiannis Karakasis MW

I am not sure I have ever truly understood what it means to be a good father. My guess is that I haven't.

What I know for certain is this: a few days ago, my son stayed with me for at least six minutes listening to Mahler. And on Father’s Day, I found myself thinking about those six minutes more than any career moment or professional distinction I once considered very important.

Adolescence is challenging. REALLY CHALLENGING. Not just for children but also for parents. Especially for fathers, who often fluctuate between two conflicting instincts: to guide and to give space. To protect without controlling.

I'm not the best person to give advice. In fact, I might be the least suitable father for it. Most of what I’ve learned has come from my mistakes, times when I was more focused on work, goals, and ambition than on what was happening around me. Perhaps this is why I find the title of Gábor Maté’s book Hold On to Your Kids so powerful. It’s hard to think of better advice in just five words.