What does your dad TED talk sound like? Have you practiced it? Is it clear? Does it make sense to people other than you?

I have been thinking about 3 things that I know I have said in pieces and situationally but that I need to write down, sit them down, and explain again.

Maybe it feels too obvious.

We don't hit.

We don't talk to each other that way.

We all live here, and we all do our part.

Most of us have said these things a hundred times. But have we made them clear enough that a 3-year-old, a 5-year-old, or a 12-year-old could tell you exactly what they mean?

That's what I've been thinking about lately.

Not just what I want my kids to believe, but what I consistently reinforce.

For me, it comes down to three things:

Keep people safe.

Be kind.

Take responsibility.

Simple. But not always easy.

I know I don't get it right every day. I let things slide. I get tired. I move on when I should circle back.

But if these values matter, I need to make them matter every day—not just when it's convenient.

Because our kids are always learning what we're really about.

Something to try this week: Pick your family's three most important values and write them on a sticky note. Put it on the fridge. When a conflict comes up, don't start with the behavior. Start with the value.

"Was that kind?"

"Did that keep people safe?"

"Did you take responsibility?"

You might be surprised how quickly your kids start using the same language themselves.

That might be one of the most important ways we can love them—by giving them values simple enough to carry wherever they go.

The World Cup is one of the easiest ways to help kids discover the world without leaving the couch. Every match is a chance to learn about a new country—where it is on a map, what language people speak, what food they eat, and what makes their culture unique. Pick one team each week and spend 10 minutes exploring it as a family. By the end of the tournament, your kids won't just know who won games—they'll know a little more about the people and places that share our world.

Cook This: Dad Friendly Granola

Ingredients

Instructions

Store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.

Kid Job: Measure, mix, and spread the granola on the baking sheet.

Dad Upgrade: Set out yogurt, berries, and granola in separate bowls and let everyone build their own parfait. Kids are much more likely to eat what they create themselves.

This summer I'm trying to lean into old-school fun.

Puzzles. Board games. Kites.

The activity isn't really the point. The point is that these things create space to talk and connect.

I tried kite flying this week. The kite was terrible. I ran up and down the beach, got frustrated, and never really got it flying. My kids eventually suggested I quit and go swimming.

They were right.

But that's the thing about analog fun. Success is optional. Show them that it doesn’t have to go well to be a success.

Three analog adventures to try this week:

The goal isn't to share all of your boring stories. It's finding simple ways to be together that don't require a screen.

If your kids play a sport for a city league, please go ask the coach if you can help. They may tell you no thanks but most of the time they want to coach as much as anyone else. Most of the time there are no coaches and they ask someone to step in. See if you can run a station, help set up or break down. Anything helps. Run the snack sign up if that’s more your speed but get in there and at least ask, they will be grateful.

This newsletter is not professional in nature but intended to be real things to try. They won’t all work but this is a process and I’d love for you to join me on the way. Thanks for reading and we hope to see you next week.

Send me a note or your best dad joke @ [email protected]