Happy Wednesday. Hope the week has been smooth so far.
In today’s edition:
Go easy on yourself, dudes
The word ‘no’
National Park pocket atlas
Time for a blood draw? Probably
Let’s get into it.
📕 DAD WISDOM
Take It Easy On Yourself
Our crew at Dad Day got asked recently what advice we’d give to new dads.
Funny enough, there was a common thread in almost every answer:
Take it easy on yourself.
And honestly, there’s a lot of truth packed into something that simple.
When you become a dad, everything changes. Your routines. Your priorities. Your energy. Even the way you think.
And I think a lot of new dads struggle because part of them is still looking backward. Missing the old pace. The freedom. The version of life before kids.
But this thing gets a lot better once you stop fighting the season you’re in. Accept that life is different now. Not worse. Different.
There are going to be days that test your patience to the absolute limit. Days where you feel exhausted, frustrated, stretched thin.
And then there are moments that completely crack you open in the best way possible. That’s the trade.
So if you’re a newer dad reading this: give yourself some grace. You’re learning an entirely new version of life in real time.
And despite the chaos…it’s worth every second.
SMALL TALK
A couple random facts you probably don’t need to know… but might come in handy the next time you're standing around at a kid’s birthday party making awkward conversation with another dad you barely know.
Researchers found that dads who roughhouse and physically play with their kids often help them develop better emotional regulation and confidence later on. So yes, tossing them onto the couch technically counts as development.
The average child hears the word “no” thousands of times per year by age 3. Which makes sense considering most toddlers seem professionally committed to bad ideas.
Studies show kids are more likely to open up during side-by-side activities like driving, walking, or shooting hoops than during direct face-to-face conversations. The car ride remains undefeated.
DAD GEAR
America 250 National Parks Pocket Atlas
Every national park in the U.S. now fits in the palm of your hand. Features park-by-park descriptions, travel tips, activities, fees, and open dates
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Fitbit Air (Whoop Competitor) Pre-Sale
» Surf Shacks Volume 3 (coffee table book)
» 10×10 Pop Up Canopy (10% off)
DAD BOD
Know Thy Numbers
With Function
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. That’s true for your bank account, your golf swing, and yes…your body.
Most dads are walking around on a feeling. Eat a little cleaner. Hit the gym when life allows. Sleep “enough.” Hope everything under the hood is fine.
But hope is not a health plan.
Lab tests tell you what’s actually going on. Hormones. Cholesterol. Inflammation. Nutrient levels. The stuff that affects your energy, mood, strength, and long-term health.
That’s why we like Function. They give you access to 160+ lab tests so you can see where you stand and what to do next.
No panic. No guessing. Just data. If you’re trying to get your health dialed in, this is step one.
Dad Day readers get a $25 credit to check it out.
Use code: DADDAY25
JUNK DRAWER
» LISTEN: Why Screen Time Leaves You Exhausted & How To Reverse It
» READ: Should Young Kids Play Video Games? A Dad’s Guide
» WATCH: Indoor Energy Burning Ideas For Kiddos
DAD HUMOR
