Happy Friday, fellas. Went full dad mode yesterday. Drove solo with my two boys from Charleston to Pittsburgh for a family reunion. Currently writing this from a coffee shop because I’m 95% sure my in-laws are still on dial-up.

Quick favor as we head into the weekend:
If this email landed in your promotions or spam folder, mind dragging us into your primary inbox and adding us as a contact? We’ve been having some deliverability issues lately and don’t want you missing out.

Thanks as always. Let’s get into it.

PS: 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.

THE DIGEST 

• Most Clicked: Raising Confident Kids 

• Best Community Reply: You don’t have to be the hero. Just be there.

• Wisdom of the Week: Sometimes the best parenting move is stepping back so they can step up.

• Product of the Week: Altra Zero Drop Run Shoes

WEEKEND BLUEPRINT 

FROM THE TRENCHES

Last week, it was all about the jump from 2 to 3 kids.

This week? We’re rewinding to the jump from 1 to 2 — the moment you go from zone to man-to-man.

Here’s what the crew had to say:

Everything changes... again.
Just when you think you’ve got it down—sleep routines, solo outings, actual free time—kid #2 shows up and resets the game. It’s a whole new rhythm that takes time to find.

The mental shift is real.
Even if you’re confident, expect a rough patch. The adjustment takes weeks—sometimes months. One dad said it took a full 4–6 months to feel steady again.

Your older kid feels it too.
Jealousy pops up fast. Tantrums, attention-seeking, and power struggles are all part of the deal. But carving out 1:1 time with your oldest goes a long way. (Think: solo beach trips, quick grocery runs, backyard hangs.)

Everything multiplies.
The mess, the volume, the effort—but also the laughs, the love, and the little wins. One dad put it best: “It all amplifies.”

You grow too.
You’ll be stretched, tested, and probably exhausted. But you’ll also become more confident, more present, and a better dad because of it.

If you’re not in Slack yet, we’ve got over 200 dads hanging out. It’s all async: ask a question when you can, get gear recs, swap parenting wins, and share tips on everything from fitness to finances. Jump in whenever. No pressure, just good people. It’s free.

👉 [Join the Slack group here]

GARAGE

Send us what you’re working on

David M. getting the kids involved for a bookshelf build. Thanks for sharing, David.

Working on something? Reply to this email and send it our way. House Projects, Green Grass, Businesses, Whatever. Would love to feature it. Otherwise, you’ll be looking at my unfinished projects.

WEEKEND BURNER

5 Rounds for Time:

• 400m Run (or ~90 sec run)

• 15 Air Squats

• 10 Push-Ups

• 5 Burpees

Want more? Add a 6th round or make it weighted.

PARTNER CONTENT

Back in college, my Spanish was pretty solid.

Semester at Sea helped with that. But it turns out “use it or lose it” is very real because now my kids are asking how to say stuff in Spanish, and I’m over here blanking on the basics.

Babbel is helping fix that. They're celebrating their birthday with a wild deal: lifetime access for just $239. One payment. Learn a language for life. Even better, learn with the fam.

Perfect for dads brushing up before a trip, keeping the brain sharp, or finally crossing “learn Italian” off the list.

Claim the deal before it’s gone