August 16, 2012 at 11:44 pm , by Nick Shell

21 months.

As a dad, I definitely have my dark, pessimistic side. I feel like way too often, this quote by comedian Louis C.K. perfectly summarizes my outlook:

“The hardest thing about having kids is the days that you spend with them. That’s really the hardest part. It’s just everyday that you have them.”

In other words, parenting is tough. How do I make it? More importantly, how do other people make it?

If we knew all the answers on what to do as parents, I suppose we wouldn’t be reading blogs like this.

But not only do I not have the answers, I don’t have the patience nor enough of a positive attitude. I just don’t, on my own.

By default, I’m way too greedy when it comes my sense of personal free time; which doesn’t help when you’re trying to take care of another little human being.

Plus, I get easily irritated (and grouchy the next day) when I can’t sleep through the night without having to get up a few times to soothe my son back to sleep.

I don’t simply mean these things annoy me: I’m saying they anger me. I don’t like that about myself.

These tendencies of mine keep me from being the dad I want to be.

Strangely though, the best help I found was when I re-programed my radio to WAY-FM, a national, non-profit broadcasting network which features The Wally Show.

Here are 5 reasons why keeping my car radio on a station like this as I drive my son around in the car helps me to be a better dad:

1. Relevant conversations. I get my news updates (and lot of my blog topics) from The Wally Show‘s real conversations about real life events going on; from buzzing parenting topics to pop culture.

2. Positive, yet realistic attitudes. It has become very evident to me that since changing to this station, starting and ending my work day with it, a lot of my own negativity has been re-wired. I catch myself thinking about encouraging nuggets of knowledge I heard on their show when before, I would have focused on the negative instead.

3. Solid, uplifting music. While the songs played in between conversations are largely Christian, they are more importantly positive. Sure, they play stuff like MercyMe’s “I Can Only Imagine,” but they also play Mat Kearney’s “Down” as well.

4. Good humor. I can always use a laugh, and I always get it when I have this show on. Just look at Wally’s wedding photo (above) for the evidence. I used to be a Free Beer and Hot Wings kind of guy. But now I can listen to goofy comedy and still have a clear conscience for the rest of the day.

5. Opportunities to help others.The Wally Show is a big supporter and fund-raiser for Blood:Water Mission, a grassroots organization that empowers communities to work together against the HIV/AIDS and water crises in Africa.

Simply put, listening to The Wally Show, as opposed to the average radio station, integrates positivity into my life. And I am an often pessimistic parent who needs that kind of reinforcement that lasts throughout the day.

There’s a really good chance you live in an area where you can pick up The Wally Show on your radio. Click these colorful words to see a list of cities and find out for sure.

Worst case scenario: You can still very easily listen to The Wally Show‘s podcasts by clicking these colorful words if you happen to live in one of the few cities that doesn’t have radio access to the show.

While I’m at it, I want to remind you that you are invited to learn 8 Non-Religious Reasons To Take Your Kids To Church to help add even more positive vibes in your hectic life as a parent.

Here’s the kind of music played on The Wally Show; this song in particular relates to being a parent: