Dadvice Weekly #18 / The Busyness of Christmas
Dadvice Weekly - #18
Christmas has always carried a certain energy for me, not because of Santa or nightly traditions like movies and cocoa, but because of the anticipation and meaning woven into the season. Growing up, we didn’t go all in on the Santa side of Christmas, but we did have rhythms that made it special. Church each week with an advent candle lit. An advent calendar at home, sometimes with Lego pieces so by December 24th you had a full set. Another year we had Bionicles. Our church also had the tradition of singing Silent Night during a candlelight service on Christmas Eve.
As I got older, the Lego countdown disappeared, but the reverence never did. In grade school, Christmas meant the longest break of the year. In college, it was the natural come down after finals. A month to breathe. There was always space to think about the meaning of Christmas and have anticipation towards it.
Then adulthood hits. You’re 22, at the bottom of the corporate org chart. You have barely accrued any PTO. If you’re not careful, Christmas becomes another day of the calendar, but you don’t have to go to work. No one coaches you on how to navigate this new phase. Later, marriage and living in another state from family add another layer. Holidays become a whirlwind of travel and family gatherings. It’s joyful, but its also filled with “to-dos".” Whether you’re traveling or hosting, its a whirlwind leading up to the 25th.
Now, I’m in another transition. Last Christmas, we had a newborn. This year, we have a one-year-old. I’m asking myself: What traditions do I want for my family? How do I keep the longing for Christmas Day and the meaning of Jesus coming to earth alive?
I encourage you to ask the same questions. Amid the busyness and joy the holiday brings, have a way to make space for you and your family to reflect and rest.
If you are traveling over the holidays, here are some tips. -SW
The Parking Spot
Flying during the holidays can feel like a game of variables: delays, TSA wait times, crowds, weather, and parking. One way to remove a variable is by using The Parking Spot, a third-party parking service at many major airports across the U.S.
I’ll be honest: I have a love-hate relationship with it. Here’s why.
What I don’t love: You park away from the airport and take a shuttle to your terminal. Getting to the airport is fine, but after a long day of travel, waiting for a shuttle to get to your car to drive home can feel like forever. Each shuttle fits about 12 people, so if you’re number 13, you’re waiting for the next one.
What I do love and why I always use them at the Denver Airport: You can reserve your spot in advance. In May 2024, Brooke and I were headed to Costa Rica. We left home at 3 AM planning to use the airport’s general parking lot. Before leaving I checked online and saw the lot we planned to park at was full. I quickly pivoted to The Parking Spot app and booked a spot in minutes. That reservation saved our trip from starting with stress and worrying about time.
If you’re traveling for the holidays, there are enough unknowns in your day. Parking doesn’t need to be one of them. The peace of mind of knowing you have a place to park far outweighs waiting on another shuttle if you’re #13 in line. Book ahead with The Parking Spot and remove one variable from your travel stress. -SW
Literally Any Travel Stroller
Having a travel stroller that’s different from your daily driver is such a win. At first, I was hesitant to buy *yet another* stroller, but after several trips with the kids, seriously, just get one. We lucked into a solid deal on a Bugaboo Butterfly and it’s great, but honestly any lightweight, ultra-portable stroller in this category is a win. In stressful airport moments it’s clutch, like when you’re trying to fold or unfold a gate-checked stroller on the jet bridge. If the Bugaboo’s price tag makes you wince, the Zoe Traveler and Colugo Compact both punch above their weight for around $200-300. -KC
Digital Hanging Luggage Scale
For years, Brooke and I used the old-school method for checking luggage weight. Step on the bathroom scale, note your weight, then step on while holding the suitcase. Take the difference. If it was 45 pounds or less, we felt good. If it was more than 45, we grabbed a duffel bag and shifted items just in case. With Southwest’s old policy of two free checked bags, this worked fine.
But with Southwest’s recent changes, I think it’s time to tighten up the Waldo baggage weight policy. We have a Hawaii trip coming up in February, and I finally bought a luggage scale for eight dollars. Honestly, I should have done this years ago with how often we fly.
If you are still using the bathroom scale method, it is time to upgrade. This little tool removes one more variable from your holiday travel stress. Clip it to your bag, lift, and know your exact weight before you leave home. No surprises at the airport. -SW
Tip While You Travel
Traveling with kids means hauling car seats, pack-n-plays, strollers, and mounds of bags. The thirty minutes before we get through security and drop off checked luggage is genuinely the most stressful part of the entire trip for me. A few years ago I started carrying cash specifically to tip every person who helps us in that crazy window: the shuttle driver who loads our mountain of bags and strollers, the curbside bag guy, the rental car person. From experience, usually five bucks is enough to turn someone’s indifference into helpfulness. This $15-20 bucks per trip leg has bought me more peace of mind than any other travel tip I’ve read or applied. -KC
Strategically Pick a Hotel to Break Up Trip
I was recently talking to a friend about his childhood trips to see family. It was a two day drive, and as a kid, he loved it because it didn’t feel like a travel day. It felt like part of the vacation. His parents had a simple strategy: leave early in the morning, stop a little more than halfway, and stay at a hotel with a pool. For him, that random hotel felt like a resort. He swam with siblings, had fun, and made memories before even arriving at their destination.
Now as an adult, he realizes what a win-win that was. Parents get an early start and break up a long drive. Kids burn energy and have anticipation for the travel day. Even if the pool water is cold and the hotel is basic, it feels special to them.
Our daughter is still too young for this strategy, but I’m filing it away for when she’s older. It’s such a simple way to turn a long drive into something fun and memorable.
Create a travel strategy and make it a tradition if you can. Let the journey serve your family, not just the destination. Even if it’s a $120 hotel in Amarillo, it’s worth it if it reduces stress and creates memories. -SW
Dadvice Weekly is Kyle and Skyler—two friends in their thirties, living in Colorado, settling into fatherhood and trying to stay sane. Every Tuesday we share what’s working in our homes: gear we use, routines we’ve tested, ideas we’re trying. It could be a recipe, a product that solved a problem, or just what we’re thinking about as dads.
If you have a tip, tried something we mentioned, or just want to say hi, reply to this email or message us on Substack. We read everything, and we’re always looking for what works. Thanks for reading.