Sadie Story Of The Week

She’s Already Got Me Wrapped

Okay, I’ll admit it, maybe I’m a little biased.

But lately, I’ve been catching Sadie giving me these smiles that feel… different.

She’ll be in someone else’s arms, scanning the room, doing her usual baby surveillance. But the second I lock eyes with her? Boom, grin. And not just any grin. It’s the shy kind. The slow kind. The “I-know-you-and-you-know-me” kind.

Sometimes she even turns her head into her shoulder like she’s being bashful. Like she’s flirting with the idea of being a total daddy’s girl.

And don’t get me wrong, she loves her mama. Mama’s got the cuddles, the milk, the songs. But when she sees me? It’s like I’m the punchline to a private joke only she gets.

It’s subtle. But it’s there. And it’s melting me into a puddle on the hardwood floor.

Dad Tip:
Pay attention to the tiny cues when they’re young, those bashful glances, the slow blinks, the half-grins. They’re not random. They’re how she tells you, “You’re my guy.”

Dad-Stuff We’re Eyeing

➠ 2-person portable infrared sauna with folding chair

➠ Funny new dad survival kit for first-time parents

➠ Men’s casual fashion fall flannel lightweight jacket

Dad-To-Dad Wisdom

Quote Of The Week

“The sign of a great father is not how he raises his children, but how he raises the bar for himself."

— Unknown

Our dads did their best. No manuals, no podcasts, no Instagram therapists whispering tips between diaper changes.

But let’s be honest, things are different now.

Back then, “being a good dad” often meant bringing home a paycheck, mowing the lawn, and maybe coaching Little League. Feelings? Not really part of the job description.

Today? We’re expected to be emotionally available, actively involved, and somehow still crushing it at work.

We’re changing diapers, learning about Montessori, showing up for bedtime stories, and questioning how we were raised so we can do better for them.

We’re breaking cycles.
We’re more present.
We’re redefining fatherhood in real time.

And yeah, it’s a lot. But it’s also a gift.

Because we get to be the kind of dad our daughters will measure all future relationships against.

We get to model empathy, softness, strength, and presence, not just provision.

Dad Tip:
You don’t have to do it how your dad did it. Being present, emotionally available, and actively involved isn’t “extra,” it’s the new standard.

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Dad Hacks & Tips

Supporting Her After Maternity Leave
(Whether She's Returning or Staying Home)

One of the biggest shifts in parenthood happens not with the baby, but between parents.

Whether your partner heads back to work or stays home, her world just changed forever, and how you show up in this transition matters.

If she’s going back to work, she might feel guilt for leaving, fear of falling behind, and overwhelm from juggling both.

If she’s staying home, she might wrestle with identity loss, loneliness, or the pressure to “do it all.”

Here’s your job, Dad:

- Be her teammate, not her critic.
- Validate her feelings, don’t fix them.
- Say “thank you” more than you think you should.
- Step in without being asked.
- Handle dinner a few nights a week (Bonus Points) 

Even small things, packing the diaper bag, doing night feedings, or giving her 30 quiet minutes to reset, go a long way.

Because how you support her shapes how she shows up for your daughter.

Dad Tip:
Your daughter is watching how you treat her mom. Set the example early: partnership means showing up, especially when things change or feel heavy.

Papa Poll Of The Week

Vote now!

Results will be posted in next Friday’s newsletter. (All votes are anonymous)

Last Week’s Poll Results

When it comes to hauling kids (and all their gear)… what size car are you rolling with?

Turns out, the SUV reigns supreme. Whether it’s the extra trunk space, third-row seating, or just the feeling of being one headlight flicker away from joining a dad caravan, most of you chose the classic dad upgrade.

The truck dads showed up strong too, proving that car seats and a truck bed can peacefully coexist (and maybe even thrive).

Meanwhile, minivan defenders held their ground with pride (“I gave in, and it’s glorious” might just be the official minivan slogan at this point).

Sedans and compact cars? Still hanging in there, but the odds of squeezing in a stroller, diaper bag, and two snacks she won’t eat anyway are getting slimmer by the day.

Moral of the story: When it comes to dad vehicles, practicality > pride. And that’s a trade we’d all make again.

The Last Crumb

The World Is Coming, So Prepare Her Now.

One day, she’ll walk out that front door on her own.

No hand to hold. No one buckling her in.

Just her heart, her head, and everything you poured into both.

We can’t shield our daughters from everything, not the rough patches, not the hard conversations, not the unfair moments.

But we can raise them with confidence.

With empathy.

With the strength to stand tall, even when no one’s looking.

The world might be unpredictable. But your consistency doesn’t have to be.
Every time you show up, speak kindly, and set a boundary with love, you’re not just raising a child.

You’re preparing a future adult who knows her worth, knows how to think, and knows she’s never truly alone.

So no, you can’t control the world she’ll walk into.

But you can help build the compass she’ll carry when she gets there

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