Here we are. Another Friday. Let’s go.
Some great college football this weekend. And if you’re anywhere near Asheville and looking for something to do, come hang with us.
More on that below.
If you’re new here, we mix it up on Fridays with a quick recap from the week and a few extra gems to head into the weekend right.
“Trust your own instinct. Your mistakes might as well be your own, instead of someone else’s.”
THE DIGEST
Wisdom of the Week: Michael Caine was once asked for one rule of parenting. “Forgive everything.” Kids screw up. We screw up. Deal with it, learn from it, and move on. And yeah, that probably includes forgiving yourself once in a while too.
Most Clicked: The 12 Things People Regret Spending Money On
Gear of the Week: ACE Full-Zip Sweatshirt
For the Kids: Stomp Rocket (surprisingly very fun for adults, too)
Read, Watch, Eat, Listen
A few things to get into this weekend if you have a moment
📕 Read: Lonesome Dove | A Novel by Larry McMurtry
📺 Watch: TYSON Documentary on Netflix
🍔 Eat/Drink: 25 Easy Family Dinners And More | Cocktail History: The Negroni
🎧 Listen: G.R.I.T with Derek Grant (💯)
IN THE TRENCHES
Topic: Are Your Kids Pulling Their Weight?
We asked how much your kids are involved in household chores this week, and it sounds like a lot of us are still figuring this one out.
28% said they're working on it, while another 28% said their kids are still too young. About 21% have kids who help when asked, and another 21% have regular chores in place.
The comments were pretty entertaining, especially from the toddler dads.
One guy said his one-year-old's contribution is throwing things in the trash can, usually followed by pulling something else back out.
Another said his kid is excellent at entertaining the dog, which we're counting as a household responsibility.
For the older kids, we heard about feeding pets, unloading dishwashers, raking leaves, and clearing plates after dinner.
A few dads admitted they've gotten so used to doing everything themselves that they sometimes forget their kids are old enough to pitch in.
One dad shared an interesting observation. When everyone helps clean up after dinner, it takes 15 minutes instead of 45. They put on some music and knock it out together.
There was also a dad who grew up with almost no chores, while his wife had them every night. Now they're trying to figure out where to land with their own kids.
And we liked this line from another dad:
"Young enough to make a mess not old enough to clean up a mess."
Appreciate everyone who weighed in this week. We got a kick out of reading what counts as a chore in different households, especially the ones with little kids running around.
PROJECTS
Send us something you’re working/worked on and we’ll it share with the crew.
Chris M. from Arizona dropped this in the Slack group. We love a good ol’ fashion before and after photo. Nice work, Chris! Thanks for sharing.
WEEKEND BURNER
This one is less “quick burner” and more earn your weekend. Set a 40-minute clock and keep working through:
800m run
20 dumbbell clean + presses
30 walking lunges
20 push-ups
40 kettlebell swings
20 step-ups
400m run
That’s one round. Start back at the top and see how far you get before time runs out. Pick weights you can keep moving with. The goal is not to sprint it. Just settle in and do the work.
ONE LAST THING
⛰️ Hill Yeah: We had a last-minute idea to walk up and down a hill from sunrise to sunset, and nine dads decided to join us. Hill Yeah is our most unofficial gathering yet, and we’re stoked. We’ll be meeting bright and early at Black Mountain Lookout Trail in North Carolina. There’s still time to join us. [Sign up here] for the details.
🍻 Weekend Assignment: Let the kids plan a surprise outing this weekend. Give them three options, but don't tell them what any of them are. Just label them A, B, and C. Could be donuts, a new playground, a bowling alley, whatever. They pick a letter, you hand over the keys to the adventure. And yes, you have to commit to whatever they choose.
🧠 Worth Knowing: You know that tiny plastic table in the middle of a pizza box? A woman named Carmela Vitale actually patented it in 1985. She called it a "package saver," and its sole purpose was to keep the cardboard lid from ruining your cheese. A small but important contribution to society. 🍕
dad shower thoughts: Every time you shuffle a deck of cards, there's a good chance you've created an arrangement of cards that has never existed before in human history.