Hope y’all had a good weekend.

Mine was a blur of football, kids’ soccer games, shiplap, and too many Home Depot runs. Big thanks to my dad for jumping in on the project. Nothing like bonding over power tools and arguing about whether the level is actually level.

📕 DAD WISDOM 

Comfort Is Overrated

I listened to something over the weekend and it was all about our constant state of wanting and needing to be comfortable.

Air-conditioning. DoorDash. The newest iPhone, whatever. We’re pros at building lives that remove friction.

But here’s the rub: every meaningful dad moment I’ve had came from the opposite of comfort.

3 a.m. feedings. Sitting in the rain at my kid’s soccer game. Hauling a 40-pound car seat and ski equipment through an airport like a pack mule. None of that was cozy. But it’s where the memories and the growth happened.

The truth is, kids don’t remember when life was convenient. They remember when you showed up. Even if you were sweaty, tired, or freezing.

Takeaway: comfort feels good, but it rarely makes you better. Choose the harder thing sometimes. Your kids are watching how you handle discomfort, and they’ll learn to do the same.

RAD DAD 

Philip Rivers

Photo via People

Former NFL QB and dad to 10 kids (yes, 10 kids), Philip Rivers is known for his deep commitment to fatherhood. Along with his high school sweetheart Tiffany, he balances family dinners, carpools, and backyard football games with the same intensity he once brought to Sundays on the field.

Rivers’ parenting style is rooted in presence and gratitude. He’s clear about what he hopes to pass on: “Children want our time. Sometimes it might just be five minutes, sometimes more, but they want us engaged and present.” He also draws from his own father’s example: “If you’re going to do something, do it all the way. Nothing should be done halfheartedly.”

He stresses that fatherhood is about showing up every day.

And he reminds other parents not to fear having a big family: “There can be a fear of having too many going in, but a regret of not enough when looking back.”

For Rivers, the highlight reel isn’t touchdowns, it’s raising kids who love each other, stay grounded, and know their dad was always in the game with them.

Quotes from People and NCRegister

DAD TOYS 

Away Travel Carry On

I bought my Away carry-on 7 years ago. This thing’s been tossed in trunks, dragged through airports, and crammed into overhead bins like a linebacker in coach.

Still rolls smooth. Still looks sharp. Still charging my phone. Yeah, it’s pricier than the bargain-bin luggage, but worth it.

Get yours here.

DAD BOD 

The Heartbeat Test

Want a real clue about how long you’ll be around to embarrass your kids? Check your resting heart rate.

Arnold’s Pump Club flagged a massive study: nearly 700,000 people, 25 years of data. Turns out, resting heart rate predicts longevity better than blood pressure.

• 50–60 bpm → money zone.

• 60–70 bpm → solid.

• 90+ bpm → risk of dying doubles.

High beats = your heart’s working too hard, like driving everywhere in first gear.

Measure first thing in the morning. Under 70? Keep doing your thing. Over 90? Talk to your doc.

» We Wanna Hear From You
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JUNK DRAWER 

DAD HUMOR