📕 DAD WISDOM 

Seasons Change

Parenting’s funny. You don’t really notice the seasons changing until you look up and realize everything’s different. The toys are smaller, the questions are bigger, and the house somehow feels both louder and quieter at the same time.

Our boys are 4 and 7 now. It’s a sweet spot. Still into playing, still want to hang with us, but it’s also shifting. New friends. New routines. A little more independence. And come February, we’re adding a new teammate to the roster, which means we’re about to enter a whole new season all over again.

I think part of being a dad is learning to let each stage be what it is; embracing the chaos of one while getting ready for what’s next. The baby years, the school years, the sports years… they all bring something different out of us.

Don’t get stuck in the old season. Just be present in this one. Because before you know it, you’ll blink, and it’ll be time to adjust again.

RAD DAD 

Bear Grylls

Photo via BearGrylls.com

I’ve probably featured him before, but I was watching a YouTube video the other day where Bear Grylls talked about summiting Everest at 23, and here we are.

What’s cool about Bear isn’t just that he’s survived the impossible; it’s that he’s brought that same spirit home. When he talks about fatherhood, you realize the man who wrestled snakes and storms is just as fired up about bedtime stories and breakfast chats.

“My dad always told me that living a good life was about looking after your friends and family and having the courage to go for your dreams,” he says. And that advice stuck.

Now, Bear passes on his own playbook: the five Fs: Family, Friends, Faith, Fun, and Follow your dreams, hoping they’ll sink into his sons like a compass for life.

He’s not the type to bubble-wrap his kids either. “I hang out all the time with kids and young scouts, and I never meet kids who don’t want adventure,” he says. For Bear, adventure builds character, and failure’s part of the climb.

Bear’s secret? The best adventures aren’t just out there in the wild; they’re right at home, in the chaos of raising kids, getting muddy, laughing hard, and showing up.

Quotes from Good Reads & Quote Fancy

DAD TOYS 

Daily Action Pad

Someone recently told me about Karstgoods (thanks, Brian). I thought, “Cool, another fancy notebook.” Then I ordered one. It’s the real deal.

Waterproof. Stone paper. This pad makes every other notepad feel like a napkin.

Undated pages for tasks, goals, and notes. No guilt if you skip a day. Feels like you’ve got it together.

Get it here.

DAD BOD 

Treat Yourself

Turns out your “treat” might actually be gym-adjacent. Dark cocoa (the real, 70%+ stuff) is packed with flavanols; plant compounds that help lower blood pressure, fight inflammation, and improve blood flow.

Translation: better heart health, sharper focus, and maybe even a slight bump in metabolism.

A 2020 review found cocoa flavanols can boost nitric oxide, which keeps blood vessels flexible and supports endurance.

The rules: go 70% cacao or higher, skip “dutched” cocoa (processing kills the good stuff), and cap it at an ounce a day. Sprinkle raw cocoa in your protein shake or oatmeal for bonus points.

Dark cocoa won’t give you abs, but it might make your heart and your mood a little stronger.

🚀 New Website Drops Next Week
We’ve been grinding behind the scenes, and it’s finally happening. The new Dad Day site goes live next week. Clean look. Better reads. Our mission? To build the go-to resource for dads; whether you’re expecting your first or navigating teenage chaos.

Got something to say? We’re looking for contributors. If you’ve got stories, lessons, or hard-earned dad wisdom, hit us up.

» Fall Challenge
Need a sign to get after it? This is it. Doesn’t matter if it’s a 5K, half marathon, or something totally different—just pick a goal, circle it on the calendar, and start moving toward it. We’ve partnered with Runna to make it simple: get a free 2-week trial with code DADDAY. The app builds your plan, syncs to your watch, and keeps you honest. Already signed up? DM us at @daddayrunclub so we can get you on the feed.

» On Strava?
Lace up and join the virtual Dad Day Run Club. It’s a fun way to stack some miles, stay accountable, and see other dads out there getting after it. Big shoutout to the Pittsburgh Dad Day Run Club for hitting 20 consecutive weeks. Nice work, gents!

JUNK DRAWER 

DAD HUMOR