Fatherhood is one of life’s greatest adventures—a journey filled with love, challenges, and unforgettable moments. Whether you’re looking for inspiration, wisdom, or a touch of humor, the best quotes on fatherhood capture what it truly means to be a dad.

From timeless sayings by famous figures to relatable lines every dad can identify with, these quotes celebrate the joys, struggles, and lessons of being a father. Dive in to find words that resonate with your unique dad journey.

  • “You don’t raise heroes, you raise sons. And if you treat them like sons, they’ll turn out to be heroes, even if it’s just in your own eyes.” – Walter M. Schirra, Sr.
  • “Some dads liken the impending birth of a child to the beginning of a great journey.” – Marcus Jacob Goldman
  • “One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.” – George Herbert
  • “The nature of impending fatherhood is that you are doing something that you’re unqualified to do, and then you become qualified while doing it.” – John Green

“One of the greatest things a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” –Howard W. Hunter

  • “That is the thankless position of the father in the family—the provider for all, and the enemy of all.” – J. August Strindberg
  • “Parenthood remains the single greatest preserve of the amateur.” – Alvin Toffler
  • “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” – Frederick Douglass
  • “A girl’s father is the first man in her life, and probably the most influential.” –David Jeremiah
  • “Fathers, like mothers, are not born. Men grow into fathers and fathering is a very important stage in their development.” – David Gottesman

📕 DAD WISDOM

You’re Not Behind, You’re Just Becoming

Saw this post on Instagram the other day. It said something like:

“You can be lost at 22. Broke at 28. Unsure at 31. Start over at 35.
Glow and rise at 38. Find your purpose at 42. Become unstoppable at 47.”

Then it ended with: “Trust the process. You’re not behind. You’re still becoming. Greatness is never rushed.”

That line, “Greatness is never rushed,” stuck with me. Because lately, it feels like everything is rushed.

Projects, emails, deadlines, life.

Even parenting feels like a sprint. School drop-offs, practices, dinners, bedtime routines. It’s like everyone’s trying to keep up with a timeline no one agreed to.

But here’s what I’m learning: fatherhood isn’t a race. Neither is becoming the man you’re meant to be. Some seasons, you’re just trying to make it through the week.

Others, you’re building momentum. And if you’re lucky, you get those rare quiet moments: coaching your kid’s team, fixing something in the garage, laughing over pancakes. Moments when time slows down and reminds you: this is it.

Our brains aren’t meant to process 1,000 notifications a day. They’re meant to focus, to rest, to build. And building something real, like a family, a career, a life you actually like, takes time.

So slow down. Mute the noise. You’re not behind. You’re just becoming.

RAD DAD

Tom Gerlach

Photo via @noodlesforbrekky

Meet Tom Gerlach. Outdoor adventurer, storyteller, and the dad behind Noodles for Breakfast. While most of us are trying to get our kids to walk to school without complaining, Tom took his three kids and partner to walk nearly 2k miles across New Zealand’s Te Araroa Trail.

For Tom, fatherhood isn’t about bubble-wrapping kids; it’s about building resilience and raising tiny custodians of the planet.

“I view my role as a dad more of a mentor and guide… helping to build them up to be resilient, well-rounded people who understand that they are custodians of this planet.”

His classroom? The wild. His curriculum? Miles and moments that test your limits.

Tom’s learned that kids can handle way more than our “safe” lives give them credit for and that sometimes the best parenting happens with blistered feet and a killer view.

Adventure, humility, and a sense of humor seem to be the Gerlach way. Because as Tom says, “It’s a bloody fun place to play in.”

Quotes from SeaToSummit and GreatWalks

DAD TOYS

The Ultimate Arcade

If Tony Stark built an arcade, this would be it.

The Polycade Sente fuses retro charm with modern muscle. A steel-built, modular, upgradeable multicade that plays everything from Pac-Man to Fortnite. Swap controls, slap on new parts, even run it pay-to-play.

Basically, it’s the last arcade machine you’ll ever buy.

Get it here

🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE EYING UP

» VacMaster Beast Series Shop Vac

» Incrediwear Knee Sleeve

» 1,000 Places to See Before You Die

DAD BOD

In a Workout Slump? Try This.

Jump Fail GIF by FWA CrossFit

Winter’s coming. The garage will be cold. The motivation? Likely colder.

But if you’re stuck in the slump right now, here’s what lit the fire for me years ago: community.

Back in my early 20s, I joined a CrossFit gym. Yeah, yeah. I know CrossFit gets a bad rap (and some of it’s earned). But man, it worked. Not because of the workouts, but because of the people.

There’s something powerful about sweating next to other humans who actually show up. You feed off it. You compete a little. You get pushed a lot.

So whether you’re struggling right now to get out there or think you will be once winter hits, stop trying to lone-wolf it. Join something. Doesn’t have to be CrossFit. Could be jiu-jitsu, a men’s running group, or even a 6 a.m. spin class.

Pay for it. Commit to it. Show up.

STYLE

Straight Outta Fall

JUNK DRAWER

» How To Make Anger Your Ally

» Try This When Your Kid Says “I Can’t”

» 10 American Bridges With the Best Views

DAD HUMOR

“You Are No Longer the Priority — They Are”

Location: Colorado
Gig: Offers programming for military and everyday gym goers
Kids: Three (ages 15, 13, and 1 month)
Dad Superpower: Showing up, no matter how full the plate

If you know Josh Bridges, you probably know him as the former Navy SEAL turned elite CrossFit athlete, or maybe as the guy who can outwork just about anyone. But if you ask him what role defines him most these days, he’ll tell you: dad.

Bridges has three kids — two teenagers and a newborn — which means he’s living every chapter of fatherhood at once. His mornings start early, because they always have. “Wake up, make breakfast, get them to school,” he says. “Come home, work out, get work done, then pick them up and get them to whatever sport they’re in. Come home, make dinner, get their workout in, then relax and watch some TV before bed.”

It’s a rhythm. It’s a grind. And it’s a choice.

When you’ve built your career on intensity, slowing down doesn’t come naturally. “The hardest part of parenting has been realizing you have to let them fail so they can learn,” Josh says. “Not being overbearing, but pushing them when they need it.” That balance — discipline without control, guidance without suffocation — is something he’s still refining.

But when he talks about his kids’ passions, his tone shifts. “Watching them grow and have passions of their own,” he says. “That’s the most rewarding part.”

It’s easy to see how his background bleeds into his parenting style. The SEAL mindset — attention to detail, structure, endurance — now applies to school drop-offs and youth sports. Yet, even in that structure, he’s learned to loosen his grip.

“Never wish them to be any other age than they are,” he says. “They’re that age once.”

That’s not something he picked up from a leadership manual. It’s a lesson earned in the daily, sometimes monotonous, always sacred reps of fatherhood.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joshua Bridges (@bridgesj3)

Just Show Up

When Bridges first became a dad, he says he didn’t realize how much life would reorient around someone else. “You are no longer the priority,” he says. “They are.”

It’s a simple truth, but one that carries weight. His advice for other dads isn’t about optimizing time or hacking routines. It’s about presence. “Just show up,” he says. Whether that’s for school pick-up, a backyard catch, or just sitting in the living room while they talk about their day.

“I try to be present in whatever part of the day I’m in,” he adds, “and give it the attention it deserves.”

That kind of focus doesn’t come from a self-help book. It comes from reps — from treating each part of the day as a set that matters.

Golf, Grit, and Gratitude

When he does get a moment to himself, you’ll find Josh on the golf course or getting another workout in. Physical movement isn’t just habit; it’s his reset button.

He’s not a “favorite part” kind of guy, but when pressed, he admits there’s something special about watching his kids compete. “I wouldn’t say favorite,” he says, “but I really love watching their sports.”

And if there’s one thing he wishes he’d known before becoming a dad? “That time is a gift,” he says. “Never take any moment for granted.”

The message is simple, but it hits hard. For a man whose career revolved around pushing limits, fatherhood isn’t about performance — it’s about presence.

Josh Bridges isn’t trying to be the perfect dad. He’s just showing up, every single day. And maybe that’s the whole point.

Follow Josh: @bridgesj3

Editor’s Note: On a personal note, I’ve been following Josh’s Operation LFG programming for a while now — and it’s been awesome. If you’re looking for a no-nonsense training plan built by a dad who still walks the talk, this is it.

RAD DAD: Zach Neal

Former pro ballplayer turned GolfDads founder, learning that the real game is time well spent.

Location: Fort Worth, TX
Gig: GolfDads CEO & Private Pitching Instructor
Kids: Two (ages 4 years and 8 months)
Dad Superpower: Finding rhythm between structure and joy

“I’ve Surrendered to Father Time”

After a career in professional baseball, Zach Neal knows a thing or two about focus. But since hanging up his cleats, he’s found a new arena that tests him even more — fatherhood.

“The hardest part of being a parent,” Zach says, “is managing your time efficiently. I’m around my kids a lot throughout the day, so organizing my time effectively helps with that.”

He laughs when he thinks about the transition from no kids to one — then from one to two. “That second jump was a big one,” he says. “The lack of sleep hits you hard at first, but it goes by fast. You’re through the hardest part before you even realize it.”

Time is a recurring theme for Zach. It’s both the challenge and the reward. “They grow so fast,” he says. “Time starts to take on a whole new meaning. It’s become so much more valuable.”

Enjoy the Ride

If there’s one message he wants new dads to hear, it’s this: enjoy it while it’s happening.

“I’ve tried to slow time down,” he says. “There’s no way to do it. I’ve surrendered to Father Time and decided to just enjoy each day for what it is — knowing it’ll never come back.”

He pauses, thoughtful.

“They’ll never be as little as they were the day before. You’ve got to cherish the small moments.”

That sense of awareness runs through everything Zach does. Whether he’s packing GolfDads orders, giving a pitching lesson, or just making coffee with his 8-month-old before the house wakes up, there’s a rhythm — equal parts hustle and gratitude.

A Day in the Life

“A typical dad day for me is pretty special,” he says. “I usually wake up with my 8-month-old around six. We hang out, make coffee, throw on MLB Rundown or a golf tournament from the night before. Sometimes we go out for coffee at our favorite spot in Fort Worth. Then breakfast with the family, take my daughter to school, drop off packages, and get to work.”

After that, it’s work, workouts, and more family time. “Reading bedtime stories is always the best part of the day,” he says.

Organization, for Zach, isn’t optional — it’s the backbone of being present. “Writing things down helps me clear mental space,” he says. “Time management, discipline, and organization are how I balance it all.”

Golf, Grit, and Good Music

When it’s time to reset, he heads for the course. “If I don’t get to work out or sweat, it throws me off,” he says. “Golf’s more than just an escape — it’s a physical and mental challenge, time in nature, and one of the best resets there is.”

He’s also a man who appreciates a good vibe. “If I could do nothing but play golf, fly fish, and listen to music, I’d be all set,” he says. “Throw on some Dead or Sturgill Simpson, make a good steak, maybe drive my ’72 FJ40 Land Cruiser on a cool Texas day. That’s heaven.”

Love in Motion

What’s his favorite part about having kids? “The love and affection,” Zach says without hesitation. “Showing them new things, taking them new places, traveling together. Watching the world through their eyes.”

It’s that combination — drive, gratitude, and a sense of wonder — that defines him.

Zach Neal isn’t just teaching his kids how to play the game. He’s teaching them how to enjoy the ride.

Follow Zach: @_golf_dads | @zach_neal_

Rad Dad Feature: Wylie Robinson of Rumpl

If you’ve ever tossed a Rumpl blanket in the back of your car before a road trip or picnic, you’ve got Wylie Robinson to thank. The idea sparked during a van trip through the Sierras, when a busted heater and some duct tape led Wylie to ask:

“Why can’t outdoor blankets be as warm, durable, and technical as sleeping bags?”

From that moment, Rumpl was born. Fast forward a few years, and Wylie’s now running a brand that’s become a go-to for adventurers and backyard loungers alike. But even more important? He’s a dad to two young boys and fully immersed in the ride of fatherhood.

@schoonas

“Being a dad has redefined how I think about time.”

As the founder and CEO of Rumpl, Wylie’s days are full — but being a dad has shifted his priorities in a big way. “I’ve had to recalibrate how I think about productivity, creativity, and what actually matters,” he told us. “Sometimes the most meaningful part of my day is sitting on the floor building a LEGO tower.”

His favorite part of being a dad? “The chaos. And the clarity that comes from it.” Like many dads, Wylie’s learned that juggling business with family means something’s always in motion — but there’s something grounding in the mess.

On Balance and Solo Time

Wylie finds balance in nature — trail runs, sunrise surf sessions, or early morning time before the house wakes up. “Being outside clears my head and helps me show up better for my kids.” He’s also big on creating intentional one-on-one moments with each of his sons — even if it’s a quick bike ride or time tinkering in the garage.

Advice for New Dads

“Your kid doesn’t need a perfect dad. They need a present one.”

For Wylie, showing up consistently — even if imperfectly — is the whole point. Whether that means changing course mid-day to be home for dinner or just listening more than talking, his parenting approach is about presence over perfection.

Want to learn more?

Check out Wylie’s work over at Rumpl.com or follow their adventures on @gorumpl.

And if you’re a rad dad (or know one) building something cool — hit us up. We’re always looking for stories worth sharing.

Shaun Murray has been doing backflips off wakes since most of us were still trying to parallel park. Orlando local. Pro wakeboarder. YouTuber. Three-time girl dad.
The guy’s lived the kind of life teenage you would’ve doodled on a Trapper Keeper.

But here’s the twist: behind all the airtime and American Ninja Warrior backyard antics, Murray’s dad game is straight-up grounded. Practical. Thoughtful. And honestly? Pretty dang refreshing.

The Hard Stuff (AKA: Every Parent’s Tightrope)

Ask him the toughest part of parenting and he doesn’t talk about travel or work-life balance or raising teenagers.

He says this:

“Guiding kids toward making the right decisions and them continuing to like me while doing so.”

That’s the whole job, right? Lead them. Shape them. Nudge them. But don’t lose the relationship in the process.

Shaun’s figured out the rare middle lane—firm hand, open heart. And yes, some laughing in between, because that’s the part he calls the most rewarding.

The Best New-Dad Advice You’ve Never Heard

Most dads would say something like “sleep when the baby sleeps.”

Shaun? He hits you with a mic drop:

“Show up empty-handed.”

Literally.

When you get home, don’t carry bags, boxes, backpacks, or your whole day’s stress through the door. Leave it all in the car.

Now your hands are free—for your kids, for your partner, for the little moment you miss when you’re juggling Amazon returns and a laptop.

You can hug, scoop, wrestle, high-five. You can even invite them outside to help you carry stuff in. This is dad presence in its purest form. Zero cost. Massive ROI.

The Wisdom That Stuck

Shaun’s dad wasn’t dropping Instagram quotes before breakfast—but he did give him two gems that Shaun now passes to his girls:

  1. “You become who your friends are.”
    Simple. Brutal. True. And maybe the most important filter a kid can learn early.

  2. Write down the funny stuff.
    Kids are walking stand-up specials, and your brain will absolutely forget 99% of it. Shaun’s dad literally kept a book. Shaun keeps a note on his phone. You should too.

A Day in the Life of a Pro Wakeboard Dad

When he’s home, Shaun’s day looks like the ideal mix of discipline and play:

  • Up before 6. Coffee. A few pages of the Bible. Prayer.

  • 7:00 AM → Wake the kids, help with the morning scramble.

  • 8:00 AM → Office catch-up.

  • Rest of the day:

    • Shooting/editing content

    • Backyard ninja workouts (yes, he’s competed on the show four times)

    • Wakeboarding, foiling, trampoline sessions

    • House projects

    • Cooking on his new griddle (his words: “love it more than a grill”)

It’s a buffet of creativity, movement, and dad-ing—exactly the stuff kids remember.

The Good Stuff

Ask Shaun his favorite part of having kids?

“Getting on the boat together. And when they start driving me while wakeboarding—pretty epic.”

That’s a dad dream:
Your kids growing into the life you love, and then literally pulling you into it.

His non-negotiable?

Family trips.
No debating. No rescheduling. Load the car.

When He’s Flying Solo

The dude doesn’t slow down.

He’s either:

  • Playing guitar or piano

  • Running heavy machinery like an overgrown Tonka-truck fan

  • Or even messing with RC equipment like he did on the Sandbox Boys Podcast

If it moves, Shaun’s operating it.

A Few Things Every Dad Can Steal from Shaun

  • Show up empty-handed. The simplest “be present” hack we’ve ever heard.

  • Laugh with your kids. Not at them. With them. It builds something deep.

  • Curate their circle. Because who they run with becomes who they are.

  • Capture the moments. The funny stuff disappears if you don’t catch it.

  • Keep adventure normal. Your hobbies become their memories.

  • Take the trips. Don’t wait for the perfect time. It doesn’t exist.

The Dad Day Close

Shaun Murray proves something big: You can chase wild goals, build a career doing the thing you loved as a kid, run a household, raise three daughters—and still show up at the door with open hands.

Modern fatherhood isn’t about perfection. It’s about presence, momentum, and a little wake spray in the face along the way.

If you want more Murray in your life:
YouTube → @Shaun.Murray
Instagram → @shaunmurray

In an era where cars feel more like computers than machines, James from Speeed (yes, 3 e’s) makes a simple but powerful case for driving old metal.

What started as necessity — not having the cash for something new — became a philosophy. Older cars forced him to learn, tinker, and connect. That’s how he found his community: hands dirty, sleeves rolled up, surrounded by people who fix instead of replace.

Unlike modern vehicles packed with sensors and sealed electronics, older cars invite you to modify them. But James says that’s not the real magic. The real draw is their soul — the character that comes from simplicity, imperfection, and time.

“Old cars have already proven their worth,” he says. “They’re like The Beatles — they’ve stood the test of time. You already know they’re timeless.”

There’s also something raw and honest about the way they drive. No lane assist, no silent engines, no walls between you and the road. You feel every rattle, smell every drop of fuel, hear every gear shift — and that’s the point.

It’s not about nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It’s about connection — to craft, to history, to a sense of responsibility. Every old car tells a story, and every owner becomes part of it.

“Owning something that’s survived this long makes you want to take care of it,” James says. “It’s a reminder that some things — and people — are built to last.”

This story and video originally appeared on Speeed’s YouTube channel.

Why It’s Dad Day Approved

This isn’t just about cars, it’s about stewardship. Fixing, maintaining, passing things down. It’s the same energy that makes a dad teach his kid how to change the oil instead of paying someone else to do it.

Old cars aren’t just vehicles. They’re proof that quality, care, and patience never go out of style.

Dad Day Curates” highlights great stories, creators, and gear from across the web — always credited, always with respect to the original source.

If you’ve ever stood in your garage, hands on hips, wondering how the hell it got this messy — this one’s for you. In a recent MeatEater Clips video, Steve gives a full walk-through of his garage setup, and it’s… well, intimidatingly dialed. Every inch is doing something.

He starts with a “drop zone” by the door for gear coming and going — then moves into open shelving with bins built to fit. Not the other way around. It’s like Marie Kondo met a hunting guide.

  • Fishing gear? In labeled bins.
  • Action Packers? Loaded with grab-and-go essentials — first aid, optics, camping cups.
  • Workbench? Walk-around clean. Ready for whatever project’s next.

Steve even went industrial with Vidmar cabinets for tools and Acro Mills sorters for hardware. Overkill? Maybe. Effective? Absolutely.

Up top, he’s using modified Flex Mount panels for overhead storage — think gas cans, coolers, even spear guns. The man’s turned his ceiling into bonus square footage.

Bottom line:

This isn’t about being obsessive. It’s about building a garage that works as hard as you do.

Watch the full clip on MeatEater, then tell us — is this next-level inspiration or proof you need a weekend off to get your life together?

We didn’t make this video — the legends at MeatEater Clips did. We’re just fans sharing good ideas and adding a little dad commentary. All rights to the original creators.

Humans were built to move weight. Long before gyms and kettlebells, we carried survival on our backs: food, firewood, and the occasional unlucky animal we chased down. That’s what Dr. Andrew Huberman and author Michael Easter dig into when they talk about rucking—walking with weight. It’s a forgotten superpower still hardwired into our DNA.

Running gets all the attention, but carrying weight does something special. It fires up your heart like cardio while also building the kind of functional strength that lasts. Adding a weighted backpack can burn more calories per mile than walking or running alone. It’s also one of the best ways to get outside, clear your head, and train without beating up your joints.

Studies on backcountry hunters show just how effective it is. They drop fat while keeping muscle; the kind of slow-burn transformation that sticks. The reason is simple: rucking hits nearly every major muscle group while forcing your body to adapt to real-world load. It’s primal fitness done right.

If you’re starting out, go light. Women should begin with 5 to 20 pounds. Men should start with 10 to 30. Build from there by adding weight or distance each week.

Keep it under 50 pounds or one-third of your body weight to stay in the safe zone.

Rucking also pairs well with running. It strengthens your stabilizers, improves efficiency, and reduces injury risk. And just like in life or work, the hardest part is getting started. Once you push through that early resistance, the rhythm takes over.

Watch Michael Easter and Dr. Andrew Huberman explain why rucking might be the most underrated way to get lean and strong

Strap on a pack, hit the trail, and carry something heavy. Your ancestors did it to survive; you can do it to thrive.

Inspired by Dr. Andrew Huberman and Michael Easter’s conversation on rucking, weight loss, and strength. © Original content and research by Michael Easter and Andrew Huberman, PhD. Watch the full episode on YouTube.

If you’ve ever bent down to tie your shoes and heard your back whisper “don’t do that again,” this one’s for you.

Tom Merrick — better known as The Bodyweight Warrior on YouTube — built one of the most popular flexibility videos on the internet. Over 20 million people have followed along with his 15-minute full-body stretching routine, and for good reason: it actually works.

This isn’t yoga. It’s not fancy. It’s just smart, simple mobility training for people who want to move and feel better without spending an hour doing it.

Here’s what it covers:

  • Neck & Shoulders: Gentle side leans, assisted neck stretches, and shoulder extension reaches to unlock upper-body tension.

  • Chest & Lats: Deep chest openers and lats stretches that counteract all that desk time.

  • Back & Hips: Child’s pose, rocking twists, and hip stretches that release pressure through your spine and lower body.

  • Glutes & Legs: Cross-leg pulls, squats, and pike stretches to hit the hamstrings, glutes, and hip flexors.

  • Final Flow: Frog pose and side lunges to finish with deep adductor and groin work.

“You don’t need to be flexible to start — you get flexible by starting.” — Tom Merrick

A big part of Merrick’s method is breathing through discomfort, not forcing it. Each stretch builds into the next, creating a flow that hits every major muscle group in just 15 minutes. You can even grab his free downloadable PDF guide from the video description to keep it going offline.

Watch the full routine: 15-Minute Beginner Flexibility Routine by Tom Merrick

Inspired by Tom Merrick’s Bodyweight Warrior channel, which has helped millions build real-world strength and flexibility through simple, body-based training.