Morning brother,

To make sure you don’t pull a “Dory”, we have a very important reminder…

TOMORROW IS MOTHERS DAY!

If you haven’t gotten your wife/partner/baby momma a card, gift, or set the breakfast in bed menu yet, there is still time!

In today’s edition:

1. Five Pieces of Gum at Once 🍬

2. The new GRL DAD Referral Program 🏆

3. Kid Friendly DIY String Art 🔨

4. Money 101 for Kids 💵

Parenting

Five pieces of gum at once

When was the last time you thought about what it’s like to be a kid? I mean truly. Not just like looking at your kid and thinking “I wonder what’s going on inside that little head of theirs?

As adults, we get so focused on the day-to-day logistics of life, and often forget about the wonder of it all.

We recently came across a book by William Beausay. In one chapter he speaks to the way kids think to help parents empathize with their children. (Bare with me girl dads, we know the book is Galled “Boys”, but this counts for you too.)

The ”Coles Notes” version of the chapter is this.

As parents, we will never fully understand what our kids are thinking when we see them do something that we would see as irrational or illogical. But when we imagine ourself in their shoes and empathize with our kids, it becomes much easier to understand what they’re doing, why their doing it, and what they’re feeling when they do it.

Curiosity is an instinctive driver for all of us. "How does this work?” “Where does this path lead?" “What happens if I press this big gigantic red button that says DO NOT PUSH”? We all want to know what happens when you push the button.

Remember?

Here is a quick exercise that Beausay shares to help transport you back into your favourite little pair of velcro sneakers. After each phrase below, Stop and let your mind drift. Go back to these moments in your childhood and recall how you felt.

• Worms

• Hot summer days

• Pulling weeds

• Thunderstorms

• Five pieces of gum at once

• Walking to school

• Noises at night

• Your first grade classroom

• Feeling like you got away with something naughty

• Grandma and Grandpas house

It’s not a perfect science, but I have found the idea of stepping back and thinking about how the moments above made me feel brought back a spark of what it means to be a kid.

So as you head out on your adventures today, keep the feeling of “five pieces of gum at once” in mind. 😉

From the GRL DAD Crew

Introducing Our New Referral Program!

Are you a fan of GRL DAD? We bet one of your buddies would be as well! And when you share the newsletter you get rewarded!

Our new GRL DAD referral program rewards you for sharing the newsletter you love!

Simply click the button below, and share the link with your friends and start earning some sweet GRL DAD swag!

The Toolbox

Finance 101 for Kids

Money is a topic that's often hushed up in many households, but it's arguably one of the most important lessons that we can teach our kids to prepare them for adulthood! (Because we know they’re not going to learn how money works in the classroom!)

Start with the Basics

When introducing the concept of money, start simple. Use real-world examples. For instance, let your kids know that the delicious ice cream they enjoy on sunny afternoons, or the colourful Lego sets they love to build, all come from money that you work hard to earn.

Give Commissions, Not Allowances.

Ramsey Solutions recommends not just giving your kids money for breathing, but to reward their hard work around the house with commissions for the chores they complete (mowing the lawn, cleaning the dishes, etc.) Dave Ramsey and his daughter Rachel Cruze talk a lot about this system in their book, Smart Money Smart Kids. This concept helps your kids understand that money is earned — it’s not just given to them.

Teach Them to Save

Saving can be a hard concept for kids to grasp, but it's an essential one. One approach can be using clear jars to represent different categories: spending, saving, and giving. Each time they receive their allowance, show them how to distribute their money among these jars. This way, they can visually see their savings grow and make more informed decisions about how to use their money.

The Magic of Compound Interest

As the kids get a bit older, it's time to introduce the idea of investing. Make it fun though. How about a compound interest challenge? Have them save a certain amount each week, and at the end of the month, add some "interest" to their savings. They'll see how their money can "grow" over time.

Open a Bank Account

When they're ready, take them to the bank and open their first checking and savings accounts. This will not only make them feel grown-up, but it will also teach them about the banking system and how interest works in a real-world setting. Share how their clear jars have now changed form into banks accounts!

The Gift of Giving Back

Encourage your children to use part of their allowance to support a cause they care about. Whether it's donating to a local animal shelter, buying a meal for someone less fortunate, or contributing to a charity that resonates with them, it's important they learn about the joy and responsibility of giving back.

Budgeting Bootcamp

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, teach them about budgeting. Show them how you plan the family's monthly expenses, and help them create a simple budget for their own allowance.

Remember, the goal isn't to make them financial wizards overnight, but to build a solid foundation for good money habits over the long run.

Dad Joke Vault

RIP boiling water, you will be mist.

Daddy-Daughter Time

Kid Friendly DIY String Art

Welcome to a Dadurday Toolbox Project, projects that are great collaborative projects for you and the kiddos! Let's get started!

Here’s what you’ll need:

1. A wooden board (size as per your preference)

2. Nails (Size will depend on the size of your board)

3. A hammer

4. A saw (optional: If you’d like to cut your wooden board)

4. String or yarn of various colors

5. A printed outline of the design you want to make

6. Masking tape

Instructions:

1. Pick Your Design: First things first, you and your kiddo need to decide on a design. This could be anything from their favourite animal, a cool geometric pattern, the shape of their favourite place (state, province, country), or even the first letter of their first name. Once you have picked your design, print it out on a sheet of paper.

2. Preparation: Place the outline on your wooden board where you want the design to be, and secure it with masking tape.

3. Hammer Time: Now, it's time to channel your inner Thor and hammer the nails along the lines of your design, spacing them out evenly. You can make the design as detailed as you want by adding more or fewer nails. Remember, safety first, so watch those fingers.

4. Pull Off The Outline: Once all the nails are securely hammered in, carefully remove the paper outline. Now you're left with your design outlined in nails.

5. String It Up: Tie the end of your string or yarn to one of the nails. There's no set rule for this part - just weave, wrap, and string it between the nails. Make sure to fill in your design but keep it random to add an artistic touch. You can switch up colors as you go along for an extra pop.

6. Finishing Touch: Once you're happy with your stringing, tie off the end of the string securely, and voila! You have your custom-made nail and string masterpiece.

If your design isn't perfect or your strings are a little off, that's alright. It's about spending quality time with your kiddos, creating something that's truly one of a kind!

So there you have it, a new piece of art and another memory in the bank. That's what Dadurday DIY is all about.

The GRL DAD Treehouse

The Inner Circle: Terry Bradshaw doesn’t mess around when letting his girl’s boyfriends know where they stand!

Jukebox Hero: Heros | Ben Rector (This music video is awesome)

Go-Go Gadget: The perfect solution if Your wife or significant other is tired of your beard hairs ending up all over the bathroom.

The Job Board

CDL Class A Delivery Truck Driver Performance Foodservice

Warehouse Worker - Day Shifts Amazon

Marketing Assistant - DeLorean Motor Company