Dad Braids Club: Forward, Backward, and Right Here

Estimated read time: 3 min

🧠 Today’s Idea

Søren Kierkegaard said:

This past weekend, we took our first long-ish road trip as a family of four.

It had all the usual road trip moments — excitement, snacks, detours, meltdowns, and that point where you start wondering if the whole idea was a mistake.

By dinner time, the kids were unraveling. We could’ve gone with the easy button — fast food — but we have this family rule: if possible, we try to eat somewhere local.

We spotted a small Vietnamese restaurant tucked inside a shopping mall. Total roll of the dice. The decor and lighting felt… unintentional. Which, in our experience, usually means the food is going to be amazing.

The owners greeted us with genuine warmth. The air smelled incredible. Two customers were eating when we walked in — and minutes later, a family of 30 Vietnamese people filed in. Always a good sign.

The food? Absolutely delicious.

Looking back now, I see the whole scene differently.

It wasn’t just dinner. It was a moment that will live in our family memory — a little oasis in the chaos of travel.

Parenting is like that. You make choices without knowing how they’ll play out. Sometimes they flop. Sometimes they become the stories you tell years later.

You can’t predict those moments.

You can only keep showing up for them.

🗳️ Poll of the Week

P.S. Last week’s poll had an overwhelming winner — managing stress was the top challenge for our community. (It’s definitely mine, personally!)

Would it be helpful if I put together some simple tips, tools, or challenges we could all try together? Hit reply and let me know — I’d love to make this a group effort.

📸 Community Highlights

I’m sooooo excited for our live SF braiding class at The Rabbit Hole Children’s Theater!

It sold out in just a couple of days, and we’ll more than likely make it a regular thing.

🌀 Braid of the Week

This week’s most-loved style was Rope Braided Pigtails:

📷 Watch on Instagram

🎥 Watch on TikTok

🔗 Useful things I’ve found this week

1️⃣ Order vs. Chaos — My new favorite alternative to tic-tac-toe. I can’t decide if I like being Order or Chaos more. Watch here

2️⃣ Haggling Like a Pro — Best Facebook Marketplace negotiation tips I’ve seen yet. Watch here

3️⃣ The Dad Knot — A quick, super-handy knot every dad should know. Watch here

✌🏻 Final Thought

At the time, dinner was just a quick stop to feed hungry kids.

Looking back, it’s one of my favorite parts of the whole trip.

– Strider

P.S. 

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P.P.S.

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