📕 DAD WISDOM 

Be the Dad Your Kid Needs

March is Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month, and it's got us thinking about the dads out there whose fatherhood journey looks different than they imagined.

That feeling of "never playing catch with my kid like I thought" hits deep. It's the gap between the fatherhood we pictured and the one we got. But here's the thing about being a dad - the job description was always going to change on you.

For some, that means learning to play catch sitting down. For others, it means finding entirely different ways to connect. The playbook gets rewritten, but the goal remains the same: being the dad your specific kid needs, not the one you thought you'd be.

My buddy Mike Medved (who's been both a good friend and inspiration in this area) put it perfectly: learning "to fulfill the dad role in unexpected ways is worthy of fist bumping each other." He's right. There's something profoundly powerful about adapting your vision of fatherhood to meet your child where they are.

To the special needs dads out there redefining what it means to show up every day - we see you.

Sometimes our greatest parenting moments happen precisely when we let go of what we thought parenting would be.

RAD DAD 

Shane Dorian

Before the world knew Shane Dorian as a big wave legend charging 70-foot monsters at Jaws (famous surf spot), he was just a kid from Hawaii with salt water in his veins. Now at 51, the former World Tour pro has found his greatest stoke not in the perfect pipeline barrel, but in watching his son Jackson follow in his footsteps.

"I hope he doesn't lose his love for surfing. That is my biggest fear," Dorian confessed to Surfline. "Surfing is so important in life, just the simple act of riding waves with your friends, it's good for our health, good for our sanity and good for the soul."

While most dads worry about their kids climbing playground equipment, Dorian's watching his teenage son tackle waves that would send most grown men running for the shore. But interestingly, he's not pushing Jackson toward the death-defying big wave path he chose. "I really liked to scare the shit out of myself by surfing really big waves. I felt like I had something to prove. I am hoping my son Jackson does not follow that path."

When asked about his son's superpower in the water, Dorian's answer was simple: "He's very little, so he's a fast little bugger." And his own? "I've never lost my love for surfing."

Between charging Mavericks and Peahi, Dorian maintains a refreshingly grounded approach to parenting: "I don't spend much time worrying about what they will achieve. I just want them to find out who they really are and be happy in life."

→ Follow Shane here

DAD TOYS 

The Tracker That Actually Works

AirTags are essentially "Find My Stuff" buttons for dads who've spent too many mornings hunting for keys. One-tap setup, replaceable battery that lasts a year, and the ability to make it chirp when it's hiding under the couch cushions.

The killer feature? It uses every iPhone on the planet to help find your lost items. Drop your wallet at the park? The app will lead you right to it. The waterproof design means it survives both rainstorms and washing machines (don't ask how we know).

→ Grab a four-pack here on sale (30% off)

DAD BOD 

Creatine for the Win

Skip the sketchy pre-workout powders. Science says creatine is the real deal - and not just for gym bros. Dr. Andrew Huberman breaks it down: this $15 supplement boosts everything from your bench press to your brain function.

On the physical side, you're looking at 12-20% more power for lifting, sprinting, and jumping. But the mental benefits might be even better - improved mood, sharper thinking, and potential protection against brain fog (particularly useful after those middle-of-the-night kid wake-ups).

The science is clear: 5g daily for most guys, no timing tricks needed. Just consistent use. In a world of flashy supplement claims, creatine is the quiet overachiever actually worth your money.

→ Get the full breakdown here

JUNK DRAWER 

DAD HUMOR