Dadvice Weekly #23 / Holi-daze

Dadvice Weekly - #23

Well, we made it. It’s the first week back after the holidays, and I’m genuinely impressed we’re all still standing. This was our first year with four kids at home for the full two-week stretch, and let me tell you, I had no idea what I was walking into.

Unmet expectations on my end. Before kids, holidays used to mean actual downtime. Maybe knock out a project I’d been putting off, read a book, do a holiday puzzle. Now? It’s just unpaid childcare with sugar. We’re refereeing sibling disputes over who gets the last cookie, helping a two-year-old process emotions they don’t have words for yet, and trying to prevent a meltdowns because the wrong parent poured the cereal.

But here’s the thing: it’s only for a short time. We’re back to routine now. School buses, regular bedtimes, the rhythm we’ve been building since last year. The decorations are down, the sugar’s cleared out, and there’s something relieving about returning to normal. Sometimes there’s not a big lesson to be learned. Sometimes survival’s enough. -KC

Indoor Winter Activities: Paper Airplanes!

We’ve been cycling through indoor activities this break, and paper airplanes have been a surprising winner. I found foldnfly.com a few weeks back, and it’s clearly the authority on all things paper airplane. The site has instructions for dozens of different plane designs, from basic darts to complex gliders. What I love is that it works for a range of ages. Our four-year-old can handle the simpler folds with help, while our nine-year-old is building more elaborate designs and decorating them with markers. It’s free, fun, requires zero prep, and buys you a couple hours of focused activity. -KC

Just Bare Chicken Fillets

If you need a quick, reliable lunch option, Just Bare Lightly Breaded Chicken Breast Fillets are hard to beat. You can find them in the frozen section of most grocery stores. We’ve tried their nuggets and tenders, but the fillets are the clear winner in our house. They feel like a slightly healthier choice compared to some of the big-name frozen brands, and they taste great every time. The best part is how easy they are to make. All you have to do is toss them in the air fryer and you’ve got a solid meal in about 15 minutes. They work perfectly on a sandwich, over a salad, or just on their own with your favorite dipping sauce. Keep a bag in the freezer and you’ll always have a stress free lunch option ready to go. -SW

Sous Vide

This sous vide was given to us as a wedding gift. I was skeptical, but it makes getting the perfect steak (or other meat) to the perfect temperature with very little effort. The setup is simple: clip it to a pot, set the temperature, drop in your vacuum-sealed food, and walk away. It’s a great way to prep everything from pork chops to chicken breasts to meal-prepping proteins for the week. What I love most is the forgiveness factor. You set it to 130°F for steak, and it holds there for hours without overcooking. I can start dinner at 4 p.m., walk away, and come back whenever I’m ready to sear. The results are consistent, and there’s zero babysitting required. It’s under $70, heats fast, and lives in a drawer when not in use. And it saves me from standing in the cold by the grill. -KC

Little House Baby Toy

For Christmas Mary Kate scored pretty big with her gifts, and after a couple of weeks of playtime, one has been standing out. This little activity house has absolutely captivated her attention. It’s a house with interactive modules all around including a rotary phone, a car, a doorbell, and even a bird that pops out like a cuckoo clock. If you have a baby birthday party coming up or a little one of your own, this is worth checking out. Mary Kate is loving it, and it’s been a fantastic gift that keeps her engaged day after day.-SW

Just for Dad: ABC Pants, Lululemon

Five years ago I got my first pair of ABC pants from Lululemon and they are still the best pants I have ever owned. They are incredibly comfortable and versatile so you can wear them to the office, on the golf course, or out to a nice dinner. They also last a very long time. At this point I have a few pairs and I have never had to retire any. I bet I have worn each of them over 100 times with no signs of needing to replace them. If you are thinking about buying new pants trust me and get these. They are more expensive than any other pants I have bought but they are worth every penny. I also recommend going to a Lululemon store so you can try on different combinations of waist, length, and fit. They offer free hemming so you can get them to fit as close to perfect as possible.-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.