S'mores on the Horizon

A quick hit of dad wisdom, braids, and bonding for the week ahead

Author

Dad Braids
April 06, 2025

Estimated read time: 3 min

We’re not quite there yet—but I can see it. Our first family camping trip of the summer is inching closer, and every time I trip over a rogue sleeping bag in the garage, I take it as a sign: it’s almost go-time. S’mores. Muddy shoes. Cold mornings with lukewarm coffee. Can’t wait.

In the meantime, here’s your weekly dose of good stuff:

Braid of the Week

Double Braided Buns – One part Jedi, one part ballerina, this style holds up through playground chaos and post-dinner dance parties. This one is for the intermediate guys, but I hope it gives inspiration for those just getting started!

Maker Project

DIY Toothbrush Holder
This simple woodworking project is a fun, functional way to spend a little time together. Grab a small piece of wood, a drill, and a bit of sandpaper. It’s featured around the 2-min mark in this video

Movie Club

Annie (1982)
It’s got songs, sass, and so much heart. We’ve had "Its a Hard Knock Life" stuck in our heads for three days straight. My wife is in musical theater, and our daughter is very much following in her footsteps—so this has been on repeat nonstop! Plus a local community theater recently produced it, which my daughter absolutely loved. If your kid loves music and big characters, this one’s a classic—and it’s been surprisingly fun to revisit as a parent.

Watch on:
Prime Video | Apple TV

Community Highlight

Big shoutout to a few rad dads in our Discord this week for sharing some seriously impressive braids—clean parts, tidy finishes, proud daughters. Love to see it.

Haven’t joined our Discord yet?
It’s where the real-time magic happens—sharing, asking questions, getting quick wins, and celebrating the little stuff together.

Dad Philosophy

Lately, my 5-and-a-half-year-old has started comparing. Her drawings. Her outfits. The way she dances.

"Is mine as good as hers?"

It’s tough. Because you want to protect them from ever feeling less than. And yet, comparison is a wave they’ll have to learn to surf.

What I'm learning (and re-learning) is this: the goal isn’t to erase comparison. It’s to keep reminding them where their worth really lives—in their effort, in their joy, in the wild little quirks that make them them.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. But I’m trying to be the dad who reminds her, every day, that being herself is always enough.

Got thoughts on this? Tools that have helped you talk about comparison? Let us know in the parenting support Discord channel.

Thanks for reading. If this made you smile—or think of another dad who’d love it—forward it along. And don’t forget to join the Discord if you haven’t already.

If you got something out of this, share it with a fellow dad.

Till next week,


—Strider

P.S. Got a question, a dad win, or a total fail you want to share? Reply to this email—I’d love to hear it.