As I was unloading the dishwasher for the third time the other day I thought to myself, man I hate this dishwasher. I recently fired my cleaning service because I think they were making more than I do at my job and honestly I need to get better at cleaning basically everything. The task list is a part of our lives that is not going anywhere and regardless of what your partner is doing we need to make sure we are pulling our weight and then some. The reason I titlted this +Billy Idol was that if you have to clean some toilets or fold miniature clothes go ahead and put on Dancing with myself or Huey Lewis and the News and try to tell me you don’t feel something change. We listen to way too much content, watch too many videos. What about old loud hairspray rock music? It works and it is the perfect match for mundane tasks. Go ahead dad break out your old Bowie tapes or pull it up on Spotify and let the cleaning commence.

Takeaway: Don’t forget about the power of music for music’s sake. What is your walk up song? Put together a playlist that will keep you moving to walk, work out or clean your garage. It’s real freedom.

I realized at the end of the school year I didn’t know what my kids were learning in school. All I did know is that they were watching way too many videos in all of their classes. I mean even in the Library the books were being read on a screen. I have decided to join the PTO in hopes of doing something helpful besides just complaining. My goal is to make my own curriculum for my kids in a manner that is delivered in an age appropriate way and makes sure to cover all the things I believe they need to know before they turn 18 and head out into the world. I will be updating this as we go here. One thing that always comes back to me is this: Don’t expect your kids to do anything in public that they haven’t practiced in private. So what do you know that you want your kids to know?

Cook This: Beans

This is an easy one. Beans of all kind are a legit budget friendly health food that are a good alternative to meat. Have you ever put BBQ sauce on chickpeas? Delightful. Buy dry beans in bulk and put them in your instant pot or on the stove. Make these a regular part of your week. Find a guide to your new dry bean life below.

How to cook dry beans perfectly every time by @plantbasedmomma

You can’t make it the gym, I get it. The driving, the people, the monthy fees etc. A kettlebell fixes all that. The weight you start with is not important and better to go lighter to make sure you get your technique down without throwing out your back. You can find countless 10,20, or 30 minute work outs on YouTube and then find a way to work them into your day. This is an easy win dad and one you can take on vacation, but only if you want to.

Check this out: Men’s Health - Best Kettlebell exercises to build muscle

The summer is all about Smores. Of course making the fire is critical but also not something you can swing all the time. There are other ways to go about this creation. The microwave and the oven. Try them both. Let your kids be the tastetesters. They still get the 3 flavors without the smoke inhalation.

Check this out: Smores - 4 different ways

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]