The Courage to be Disliked, Dad SZN & Men Reading Novels

3 Things I'm Loving, Reading, Watching or Doing

Good Perspective

‘Funny and good at hugging’ — what kids want today’s Dad to be

According to this article, kids today want their dads to be funny, affectionate, and fully present. They value laughter, physical connection (like hugs), and knowing their dad is genuinely paying attention. It’s not about being perfect but rather emotionally available and engaged. That said, I think a well-timed dad joke, a couch suplex, a clutch grill game and a tight spiral still hold up.

Sign of the Apocalypse?!

Klarna for DoorDash

You can now finance your DoorDash order. Yes, Klarna is offering “eat now, pay later.” WTH. Let us bow our heads and pray that our kids never be so financially illiterate (or desperate) that they take out a loan for takeout food. Amen.

Dad Win

Second teen gets driver’s license

Dad’s Driving School is now two for two! A point of weird pride for me is teaching my kids to drive and pass the driver’s test without using a driving school. Here in Georgia, as long as we attest to having at least 40 hours supervised hours behind the wheel (and virtual classroom hours), you can take the exam without traditional driver’s ed. Now #3 has his learner’s permit, and we’ve moved on to the next challenge: learning to drive only using our 12-passenger Nissan NV. Our goal is for him to take the test in this beast. He’d be an instant legend. Stay tuned.

2 Quotes Worth Pondering

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” — Oscar Wilde

“The only way to avoid criticism is to do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.” — Elbert Hubbard

1 Big Dad Idea

The Courage to be Disliked

If you have a wife in her 40s, there's a good chance she's entering her "Let Them" era. Mel Robbins's bestselling book, Let Them, drives home a straightforward but powerful point: let people think and do whatever they want without letting it affect you.

While I haven't read her book, the premise reminded me of something I read years ago that offers similar advice—advice that might resonate even more with us dads: The Courage to Be Disliked, by Fumitake Koga and Ichiro Kishimi.

Written as a unique dialogue between a philosopher and a young man, it's more engaging than your typical self-help book. I highly recommend reading it yourself, but here's my TLDR with the top five lessons every dad can apply today (and I'll be sharing these with my teens in an upcoming email too!):

1. Overcome Inferiority Complexes: Comparing ourselves to others often breeds feelings of inadequacy. Instead, the authors encourage us to recognize our unique strengths and weaknesses and to stop seeking external validation.

2. Let Go of the Desire for Recognition: Chasing approval traps us in other people’s expectations. Focus instead on intrinsic goals and your own values. Man, I give this advice to my own kids weekly, but only after I give myself a pep talk with these reminders!

3. Live in the Present: Dwell less on the past or future—be fully here, now. This is such a tough one for me, and many dads I know. I tend to focus a lot on providing for my family and setting us up for financial freedom, which leaves me constantly thinking about the future. To counteract that, I’ve been doing a 5-minute mindfulness practice every day.

4. Find Purpose in Life’s Tasks: The book boils life down to three key areas: work, relationships, and love. Leaning into each with purpose and meaning creates balance and lasting satisfaction.

5. Reframe Your Problems: How we see challenges shapes our experience. View obstacles as opportunities for growth, and you’ll build resilience and character for yourself—and set a powerful example for your kids.

Easy peasy, right?

I’ll be the first to admit I haven’t mastered any of these five. But I know one thing: intentionality matters. When I do practice them more purposefully, I tend to show up as a better dad and husband.