If you own a home, chances are something broke this week. Maybe you called someone for a quote, saw the price, laughed out loud, and thought, You know what? I can probably do this myself.

I'm a big fan of the Mr. Fix-It game. Even if you don't end up fixing it, at least see what YouTube has to offer and give it the old college try.

Few things feel better than repairing your own toilet, fixing a leaky sink, or replacing a part yourself and saving $500 in a single afternoon. (For the record, I'm not recommending tree work or electrical projects. Pay the professionals for those.)

The real value isn't just saving money. It's letting our kids watch us learn. When they see us tackle something we've never done before, they learn that competence isn't something you're born with—it's something you build.

I recently came across a video called 100 Things You Should Be Able to Do, and I loved the idea. We all want capable, confident kids, but that starts with becoming adults who are still willing to learn.

Check this out: 100 Things You Should Be Able to Do

Takeaway: Do one thing this week you've never considered doing before. Walk 20,000 steps. Fix your toilet. Start learning Spanish. Try anything new. A life fueled by curiosity and experimentation feels a whole lot more like living.

Count the number of summers you have left with your kids at home. Not to depress yourself or to treat it as a countdown to freedom but to give what you have this year some context. It won’t last forever so what are you doing about it now? Have you been to a ball game? Did you buy those tubes you said you would? Have you picked any fruit and made a pie? What have you said you would do but haven’t yet? Now is your chance dad. Make it happen. Amen.

Cook This: Healthy Birthday cake

I get the problem with using healthy and birthday cake in the same sentence, it feels wrong and forced. I hear my kids in the crowd booing me. Hear me out. This is a cake you will feel good about them having more than one piece or even eating it tomorrow. Remember the summer needs celebrating and don’t forget the sprinkles.

Recipe here: Healthy Birthday Cake by Monique @ Ambitous Kitchen

How many steps did you walk today big guy? You need to know. The recommendation is 7500. It doesn’t have to be all at once either, 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there, after meals if you can. I read a blog about a person who did the same walk for 365 days regardless of the weather. That is the kind of dedication we need here. Your 80 year old self will thank you, your kids will see you do it, and it is something you can always bring a kid along with you. Let’s get moving old man.

All of our birthdays are in the spring, fall and winter. The summer is a break from planning the petting zoo birthday parties. That is no reason not to make a cake. Especially with Strawberries. Try the one above and break it out after dinner. The best kind of dad magic are the thing you do just because.

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]