Welcome to the Weekend Kit. If you’re new here, we mix it up on Friday because it’s more fun that way. Have a great weekend. Exciting stuff coming next week.

THE DIGEST 

• Most Clicked: The 4 Parenting Styles (And Which One Is Best)

• Best Community Reply: “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Find ways to fill your cup.”

Last Week’s Poll Results:

"Your relationship with the in-laws?"

The results?

• 45% said “One big happy family”

• 29% said “Respectful boundaries”

• 21% said “It’s… complicated”

• 4% said “Holiday obligation mode”

• <1% fell into “Other”

One dad told us, “It's good now, but it took years of hard convos and some healthy space to get here.” Another said, “We keep the peace… but only because we live 3 states away.”

WEEKEND BLUEPRINT 

QUICK POLL

Evenings hit different once the kids are down.
That sacred window between bedtime and your own crash time is prime real estate—whether you're trying to catch up, wind down, or just sit in silence like a zombie.

GARAGE

Send us what you’re working on

“Spider-Man helped me throw some shelves into an unfinished closet. Our contractor was going to charge us $750 to just add wood shelves so it became a father-son project instead.”

Thanks for sharing Henry! Looking good.

Working on something? Reply to this email and send it our way. DIY Projects, Green Grass, Businesses, Whatever.

WEEKEND BURNER

This one’s built like a chaotic Saturday with your kids: lots of movement, plenty of grit, and a little carrying stuff around for no clear reason.

5 Rounds for Time:

• 10 Pushups

• 20 Walking Lunges (bodyweight or weighted)

• 30 Sit-ups

• 100m Farmer’s Carry (use dumbbells, sandbags, or those grocery bags you still haven’t unpacked)

• 200m Run

Bonus round: If the kids join in, do 5 burpees per interruption.

Simple. Sweaty. Savage. As per usual, scale accordingly. Let us know how it goes.

WELL WORN (DAD STYLE)

The T-Shirt Staple

There’s nothing more timeless—or underrated—than a plain t-shirt. It’s the quiet MVP of dad style: simple, dependable, and somehow always sharp when you find the right one.

The key? Fabric that feels good, a fit that actually flatters, and no cheesy graphics. We found a few that check all the boxes.

→ Check ‘em out here

PARTNER CONTENT

True story: Last year, my brother (I think he reads Dad Day) had his identity stolen during tax season. Someone filed a fake return in his name, grabbed the refund, and wrecked his credit. Total mess.

That got me looking into protection for my own family. After some research, I landed on Aura. Signed up immediately and have been using it for the last year. No regrets.

Here’s why it works:

• Real-time alerts > after-the-fact warnings

• One dashboard for everything—VPN, ID monitoring, fraud protection (great for working out of coffee shops)

• Covers the whole family—because your kid’s tablet needs protection too

• $1M coverage for eligible identity theft losses

With the IRS flagging nearly 2 million returns for fraud last year, I’d rather be safe than sorry.

→ Sign up for Aura and save up to 63% here

What to Do With the Kiddos

• Babies (0–2): Bubble Watch. Sit on the porch or in the yard and blow bubbles.

• Toddlers (3–5): Toy Car Wash. Fill a bin with water, soap, and sponges. Let them scrub their toy cars, dinosaurs, or whatever’s filthy.

• Kids (6–9): Treasure Hunt. Hide 5–7 things around the yard or house and give silly clues. Bonus: buy a cheap metal detector on Amazon.

• Tweens (10–12+): Capture the Flag: After Dark Edition. Flashlights + a backyard = peak core memory.