Can you do this?
Plus – the truest form of intelligence
June 17, 2026 | Read online
Here’s what’s on tap today:
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You’re in it, but not for long
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Road trips
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Are you run-capable?
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A rope hat that won’t fly off
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And more…
Let’s get into it.
If you’re new here, welcome. Happy to have ya!
📕 DAD WISDOM
For A Little While
A couple things landed for me this week.
The first was my 4-year-old asking, “Do you want me to be like you when I grow up?” I laughed and asked, “Do you want to be like me when you grow up?”
Without missing a beat he said, “YES.”
Part of me felt incredibly grateful. Part of me thought, man…that’s a lot of responsibility.
I know he’s 4. I know I’m his world right now and that won’t last forever. But it was a reminder that our kids are paying attention to a lot more than we think.
The second thing came from our friend Henry over at Outside Kids UK. He shared a stat that by the time our kids turn 12, we’ll have spent roughly 75% of the time we’ll ever spend with them.
That one made me a little sad. Not because I want my kids to stay little forever. But because it reminded me the season feels long while you’re in it. Until you realize it isn’t.
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.
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Researchers found that children are more likely to try a new food after seeing it 8–15 times. Which means your kid refusing broccoli tonight doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve lost the war.
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The average American takes about 216 road trips in their lifetime. Parents with young kids count anything over 20 minutes as a road trip.
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The average cloud weighs about 1 million pounds. It doesn’t fall because that weight is spread across an enormous volume of air.
DAD GEAR
The Most Useful Rope Hat
Cool one today.
I had coffee last week with Tim, the dad of two behind Navis Hats. Legit dude. He gave me one to try, and the utility hit immediately.
It’s a great-looking rope hat with a built-in soft-stretch chin strap, so it stays put on boats, beaches, bikes, and whatever windy conditions you’re getting into.
I liked it enough to ask if I could drop it in here…a variety of colors and kid sizes too.
Tim also hooked us up with DADDAY15 for 15% off.
Check ’em out and support a fellow dad.
🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE ADDING TO CART
» Glass & Metal 3-in-1 Coffee Press (25% off with DADDAY25)
» 6 Pack Dry Cooler Bag
» Folding Wagon Cart (19% off)
DAD BOD
Run-Capable
You don’t need to become a runner. But you should probably be able to run.
The CDC says adults need cardio and strength training. And one big study found that even 5–10 minutes of slow running a day was linked to better long-term heart health.
Translation: keep lifting. Just build the engine, too.
Your kids will get faster. Soccer sidelines, bike rides, driveway races, pickup hoops, eventually, life asks Dad to move.
Start easy: walk 20 minutes, twice a week. Every few minutes, jog for 30 seconds. Then walk again.
You don’t need to be the guy stretching aggressively at the stoplight. Just be run-capable.
JUNK DRAWER
» 📕 Outdoor Kids In An Inside World
» 🧠 Truest Form Of Intelligence?
» 🎥 Bucket List Hikes You Should Check Out
WITH ETHOS
Most dads have thought about life insurance. Most dads haven’t done anything about it.
Here’s the only question that matters: if something happened to you tomorrow, would your family be okay?
Ethos makes it a 10-minute online thing. No doctor. No agent calls. Around $54/month for $1M in coverage if you’re 40 and healthy.
Just go do it.
Sample rate: 10-year term $1m policy for a 40 y/o healthy, non-smoking male. Online health questions required. 4.8 stars on Trustpilot as of 03/09/2026. This is an advertisement. Ethos operates in some states as Ethos Life Insurance Services. CA license #0L28949; AR license #100164629. This email was sent by a marketing associate of Ethos, not Ethos itself. Ethos mailing address: 1606 Headway Cir #9013, Austin, TX 78754. Products not available in all states.
DAD HUMOR
