Dadvice Weekly #22 / Reset & Reflect
Dadvice Weekly - #22
As the year winds down, there’s a natural pause that happens. We look back at what’s behind us and start thinking about what’s ahead. Sometimes that reflection is tough, maybe the thing you wanted most didn’t happen. Other times it’s surprising, you realize, wow, we actually did a lot more than I thought we did.
One habit Brooke and I have fallen into is having a simple conversation at the end of each year:
How did the year go? What do we want for the upcoming year?
There’s nothing magical about it, but it’s been incredibly helpful for us to share our thoughts, align on priorities, and set a direction together.
We use a simple template with buckets for our goals:
Financial
Fitness
Home improvement/house projects
Contentment (what are we wanting, but saying “not yet” to)
Marriage
Vacations
Parenting
Spiritual
Reading
Sports (how much golf should I play this year? Also what rec leagues and workout classes are we wanting to spend our time and money on this year?)
When we look ahead, we jot down goals in these categories. When we reflect back, we pull out last year’s sheet and see how we did. It’s not about perfection, it’s about being intentional.
For example, here are a few things we had on our list for 2025:
Vacations: Go to Texas for a Baylor football game
Parenting: Make memories with Mary Kate
Spiritual: Journey with our church through the sermon series and stay plugged into our small group
At work I’m a big SMART goals guy. But for this exercise I don’t care if they’re SMART or not. Just write down what you think. The real value is in the conversation, it helps you and your spouse understand what matters most and plan your weeks around the things you care about.
My encouragement to you: make this a habit. Reflect on the year, call out the things you enjoyed, and set the direction for the year ahead. Even if you don’t hit everything on the list, you’ll be more intentional with your time and more aligned with the people who matter most.
Week Ahead Template
I struggle to take notes on devices, so a few years ago I created a Word template for planning the week ahead. It’s essentially a week view calendar that I print fresh every Sunday. It lives on my desk all week as a catchall for meeting notes, to-do lists, calendar events, doodles.
How I use it. On Sunday I empty my brain of everything: pickups, dropoffs, work deadlines, home projects. During the week I check things off, add new things, etc. The following Sunday I review what got done, what can drop off, and what needs to carry over into next week’s page. The tactile interaction helps my memory and productivity.
Here are a few examples of how I’ve used the sheet:
Printing out a calendar isn’t revolutionary, but the ritual of preparing with this simple template has really helped me be more productive and to feel a sense of momentum going into the week ahead. Try it for yourself and see if it benefits you! -KC
Amazon Return Kiosk at Whole Foods
I had a few Amazon returns to make today and headed to my usual spot at Whole Foods. The return line was packed with about ten people, and right next to it was a quiet little Amazon return kiosk I had never bothered with before. I figured I could probably learn how to use it faster than the line would move, so I gave it a shot. It was incredibly simple. Scan your QR code, follow the steps, drop your item, and you are done.
I am assuming these kiosks are everywhere now, and after today I am officially converted. If you have been waiting in line like I used to, consider this your friendly nudge to try the kiosk instead. -SW
Metal Book Darts
Something I use in all of my books at home are book darts. They’re tiny bronze arrows that act as a bookmark or dog ear, but they clip onto the exact line you want to remember, not just the page. I bought a tin of 125 six years ago and I’m not even close to using them all up. They’ve held up through dozens of books, rarely bent or broken, If you read books and hate dog-earing pages, grab these for around $20 a tin on Amazon. –KC
Mexican Street Corn White Chicken Chili
When it gets cold outside, I love having chili. Recently I tried a recipe from Meat Church for Mexican Street Corn White Chicken Chili, and I have to say, it’s absolutely fantastic. If you’re looking for something cozy, flavorful, and a little different from the usual chili lineup, this one is worth making.
I followed the recipe almost exactly with two small tweaks to make it easier. First, I grabbed a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store instead of smoking my own. Second, I tossed everything into a Crockpot instead of keeping it on a smoker. Highly recommend giving it a try the next time the temperature drops and you want something hearty simmering away in the kitchen. -SW
Yucatan Sunshine Hot Sauce
I’d been rotating through the same three hot sauces for years until a friend told me to try Yucatan Sunshine Habanero Pepper Sauce. It’s a habanero sauce that’s less about heat and more about flavor. Vinegar-forward like Frank’s or Tabasco, but with a bright, citrusy kick that’s really pleasant. I’ve been putting it on scrambled eggs, leftover tacos, and just about anything that needs a little punch. It’s under $3 at HEB, and I always grab a few when I’m in Texas. If you’re tired of your usual rotation and want something that adds flavor without ruining your day, check it out. –KC
Baby Alligator Walker
Mary Kate is in that fun in‑between stage right now. She’s crawling everywhere, pulling herself up on anything she can reach, and standing with a little help, but she’s still hesitant to take those first real steps. We’ve had this alligator walker sitting on the toy sideline for a while, and a couple of weeks ago we finally decided to put it into the rotation.
It gives her the chance to “walk” without us holding her hands, and watching her push it across the room with this huge smile on her face is one of those parenting moments you just want to bottle up. She’s not walking on her own yet, but I can tell we’re close. I’d recommend this walker to anyone, not just for the developmental boost, but for the pure joy your baby gets from taking those early steps independently. It’s been a small thing that’s made a big difference in our house. -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. Glad you’re here.
Amazon’s returns at Whole Foods are too good. Just had my first experience and am fully converted. (Hope you got lucky and made it to one of the few Baylor wins this year).