Dad Brain is actually real

Oct 22, 2025

📕 DAD WISDOM

Be the Example

Last week we featured a quote from Joseph Joubert:
“Children need models rather than critics.”

It’s simple and spot on.

Our kids don’t need a TED Talk on effort. They need to see you stick with something hard.

They don’t need a lecture on patience. They need to watch you keep your cool when someone is driving slowly in the left lane on the way to school dropoff (looking at myself here).

They don’t need perfect advice. They need an imperfect dad who shows up anyway.

Because kids don’t listen half as well as they imitate. So if you want your kid to grow up kind, driven, curious, disciplined…

Don’t just tell them. Model it. Be the example they’ll replay long after you stop reminding them.

RAD DAD

Ken Hoeve

Photo via @kenhoeve

Ken Hoeve, Colorado’s river-surfing, snow-shredding, all-seasons adventurer has built his life around two things: family and the great outdoors.

Known to many as a brand ambassador, TV host, professional paddler, and co-founder of outdoor company FLATED, Hoeve has turned his love for rivers and mountains into a parenting philosophy rooted in presence, play, and perspective.

When asked how fatherhood changed his adventurous lifestyle, Hoeve doesn’t hesitate:

“Adventure doesn’t end; it just takes a new shape.”

For this “Adventure Dad,” the challenge isn’t about finding time for family, it’s about bringing family into the adventure. In the Rockies, the river, the snow, and the road have all become classrooms for his kids.

“Bring your kids into your world, not the other way around. Let them see you love what you do and they’ll love who you are.”

Hoeve’s approach isn’t about perfect balance. It’s about integration. Early-morning ski laps, mid-day paddles, and family ranch trips aren’t escapes from fatherhood but expressions of it. “The outdoors gives us perspective,” he says. “When my kids see me chasing passion, they learn what it means to live fully.”

Quotes from Flated, Gear Junkie, & Elevation Outdoors

DAD TOYS

Dual Purpose Charger

This pocket-sized throwback packs 1,500+ classic games and doubles as a 5,000mAh power bank to keep your phone alive while you’re chasing high scores.

Perfect for killing time on flights.

Right now, it’s just $79.99 (down from $129). A gadget that hits both nostalgia and practicality. We dig.

Get it here.

🛒 WHAT ELSE WE’RE EYING UP

» Keychain Flashlight

» USA National Parks Coffee Table Book

» Bodum 34oz Pour Over Coffee Maker

DAD BOD

Dad Brain is Real

Work From Home Kids GIF by MOODMAN

Forgetfulness? Mood swings? That’s not burnout, it’s biology.

According to research shared by Arnold’s Pump Club, becoming a dad literally reshapes your brain. First-time fathers show a small drop in gray matter in areas tied to empathy and social awareness; not a loss, but an upgrade.

Think of it like pruning a tree. Your brain trims the unnecessary stuff so it can focus on what matters most: your kid.

So if you’ve been feeling a little “different” lately, that’s not dad fog. That’s dad focus. Your brain’s rewiring itself for the most important job you’ll ever have.

Credit: Arnold’s Pump Club