By Scott Beller
Daddying Editor
In a normal year, I’d probably have taken down all the Christmas lights by now. But I’ve left our outside decorations up a little longer this time.
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Last year, there were so many things for me to look forward to, celebrate, and be thankful for as a dad. Just to name a few: a state rowing championship for my (then) freshman; a rising senior eagerly scouting college destinations; a successful Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F)Â filled with amazing dad stories from student amateurs to award-winning indie filmmakers; and an election that would spread joy and inclusion nationwide (even internationally), put the first woman and another great dad into the White House, and push hate back to isolation on the dark fringes where it belongs.
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Unfortunately, because that last thing didn’t materialize, the holiday season we hoped for and our outlook for the New Year was shrouded with anxiety. Inauguration Day loomed. President Jimmy Carter’s passing in late December and the climate-intensified wildfires burning across Los Angeles have added to 2025’s somber start.
Maybe my holiday lights hold-out is a small act of resistance. To repel the chaos, political division, and uncertainty we’ve endured now for more than half my daughters’ lifetimes. To hang on to joy a little bit longer.
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Despite what may happen beyond January 20th, I know I will eventually take down those holiday decorations. Then the light, humanity, and good humor I project to the outside world must come from within. My kids need it and so do I.
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Rather than get sucked under by negativity this year, I will try not to overthink and get bogged down with things I can’t control. Once again, I’ll remember my Mom’s famous cookie recipe and just keep it simple.
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Here are five priorities that give me plenty of positives to focus on as a dad in 2025:
Put more energy into celebrating small joys/victories, whenever and wherever they may occur. One example to start the year was another successful first behind-the-wheel experience for our sophomore. Another recent milestone was our senior finally getting her braces off – just in time for lovely holiday photos!
Seek everyday ways to stay connected to my busy girls. More shared events and activities like live music (Timberlake and Beatlemania were hits last year), comedy shows (John Oliver rocked at Kennedy Center for the holidays), and the family book club I kicked off Christmas Day by gifting everyone a book from our 5th annual Books to Read with Your Kids Holiday Gift Guide. Our first read, The Last Murder at the End of the World, appeals to a shared enjoyment of watching Hulu's Only Murders in the Building... and not so subtly to the state of the planet. I promise to let the kids pick something more upbeat next time.
Support organizations and artists that make a positive impact, locally and globally – e.g., my local food bank AFAC; book ban fighters PEN America, EveryLibrary, and First Book; friends of the blog, musician Justin Roberts and author Brad Meltzer; Chef Jose Andres and his World Central Kitchen team, who are now providing relief to LA residents devastated by the wildfires; gun safety champions, like Moms Demand Action and Sandy Hook Promise; and the tireless democracy defenders at Democracy Docket.
Continue to prioritize my physical and mental health.
Limit daily social media activity (outside of promoting the blog, D3F, and our filmmakers). I’ll try to avoid fueling negativity by not doom scrolling, will spend less time on increasingly toxic Twitter/X, and seek more productive engagement on BlueSky where things are more positive at the moment.
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Allan often points out that in a chaotic world where so much seems beyond our control, we must take stock in the things we can control. For me, those things are staying focused, involved, and positive in my parenting and the little joys I can bring to my corner of the world...
Including the festive lights I've proudly displayed in my front yard since Halloween.
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Daddy on.
2025 Call for Entries IS OPEN!
Students (1st grade - undergrad), Dads/Dad figures, and indie filmmakers, tell us your stories about the importance of having or being an involved dad.Â
Submit via FilmFreeway now through March 3rd!
Scott Beller is the proud, imperfect crew dad of two mighty girls, imperfect husband of a rock-star mom/regatta chaperone, truth teller, former soccer coach, part-time driving instructor, photobomber, purveyor of banned books, Editor of the Daddying blog, and Director of Communications for DCG and D3F. He's a seasoned writer and PR agency veteran with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations of all sizes reach audiences and tell their stories. Prior to launching his own creative communications consultancy in 2003, he led PR teams with some of the world’s most respected agencies, including Fleishman-Hillard and The Weber Group. As a consultant, he’s helped launch two other parenting advocacy nonprofits with DCG founder Allan Shedlin. His first book, Beggars or Angels, appears in the gift guide above and was a ghostwritten memoir for the nonprofit Devotion to Children's founder Rosemary Tran Lauer, with whom he will again collaborate on a book in 2025. He was formerly known as "Imperfect Dad" and Head Writer/Editor for the Raising Nerd blog, which supported parents in inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and creative problem solvers. He earned his BA in Communications from VA Tech so many years ago. Now on BlueSky!
