A recent study that researchers referred to as “developmental science meets big data” appears to sharpen our understanding of cognitive development in adolescents. Published in Nature Communications, it offers some of the first definitive evidence that executive function — the set of cognitive skills that include working memory, self-control, and flexible thinking — typically matures by the time a person reaches their 18th birthday.

An encompassing concept, executive function is foundational for a person’s ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, plan ahead, resist distractions, and see a situation from another person’s perspective. But, as this research confirms, it’s not a skill set that flips on like a light switch — it’s more of a developmental slow burn that evolves over time, starting around eight years old.

“This study shows that executive function is a development of mastery,” lead author Brenden Tervo-Clemmens, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Minnesota, told Fatherly. “One of the things we were really trying to understand, especially at the beginning of the study, was the trajectory of the mathematical model that describes this sort of level of mastery.”

Researchers assembled an unprecedented large-scale chart of cognitive development in teens by collecting and analyzing nearly two dozen laboratory measures of executive functions in over 10,000 participants between the ages of 8 and 35 across four unique datasets. It was an undertaking that until recently was unachievable, as researchers lacked the tools to analyze complex datasets with high confidence.

A news release summarizing the study findings explained that in both sexes, executive function maturity happens in several stages, beginning with a rapid burst in late childhood to mid-adolescence. Small but significant changes continue to occur throughout the teenage years, with executive function stabilizing to adult-level performance between the ages of 18 and 20.

In other words, while teenagers often frustrate adults with hummingbird-like attention spans, brain maturation is largely complete far before age 25, as previously thought.

So, if kids typically develop executive functioning abilities in their teenage years, why does it seem so difficult to get them to turn homework assignments in on time or do chores without multiple reminders? It’s a common question.

“Parents will come to me and say, I don't understand why my teenager can't clean his room, but he can spend 12 hours playing video games and beating all these levels cooperatively with his friends,” Tervo-Clemmens says. “We know that preferred activities with a social and emotional pull are much easier to master. Adolescents will tend to perform better in emotionally rewarding or engaging activities.”

So, while executive function abilities may exist younger than previously assumed, there’s still an onus on parents, caregivers, and teachers to creatively add fun and social elements to otherwise mundane tasks. While the skillset exists underneath the surface, its application can be helped along in developmentally appropriate ways.

As previously reported by Fatherly, spacing out a series of rewards is a great way to help kids complete multi-step tasks that require executive functioning skills such as focus and sequencing. Motivation varies from kid to kid, but doing a favorite activity with a parent or the chance to pick out a favorite meal to cook at home are rewards that can fit easily into day-to-day life without breaking the bank.

Tervo-Clemmens also emphasizes that, since mastery is key to a robust understanding of executive functioning, parents should draw attention to times when kids when put forth effort even though it doesn’t result in a desired outcome. This is key to developing a growth mindset.

“If adolescents think hard about a decision, we should give them credit for that even if the decision they land on isn’t our preferred choice since they are learning how to master those skills,” he suggests.

Beyond insights into setting reasonable expectations for kids, Tervo-Clemmens points out that there are also mental health implications of the new research and analysis. Initial signs of mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression, are typically tied to executive function and appear between the ages of 10 and 25 years old.

“That doesn't always mean that some individual patients will meet diagnostic criteria, but it's usually that they can be disambiguated from their peers that won't develop a mental health disorder,” he says. “So the idea is if we could have a normative growth chart for executive function, much like we have a height and weights for little kids, we might be able to chart deviations from normative development as a kind of an early warning sign for mental health disorders.”

Tervo-Clemmens also notes that he and other researchers are just scratching the surface. This first paper is just the beginning of a clearer understanding of adolescent brain development, and more work needs to be done outside of a lab setting to see how these insights hold up in the real world.

“The purpose of all this executive function development is to help adolescents explore their environment and become the adults that they're supposed to be,” Tervo-Clemmens says.

Being judged is never on your to-do list, but it’s also nothing you haven’t dealt with as a boss, employee, or coach. People have opinions. They voice them. You eventually must learn to shrug it off. Or at least try your damndest to do so.

When you’re getting judged as a dad, however, and the critiquing comes from your mom or in-laws or the person in the checkout line or — the best one — anyone who doesn’t have a child, it hits harder. It’s also harder to let go, and for good reason.

“It matters so much to us that we’re a good parent,” say Emily Edlynn, licensed psychologist and author of Autonomy-Supportive Parenting: Reduce Parental Burnout and Raise Competent, Confident Children. “It hits at the heart of what feels most important.”

Here’s the first problem: As a parent of young kids, you’re already good at doubting yourself. Any critique, real or perceived, merely ups the runaway thoughts that you’re terrible at this and always will be. It also doesn’t help that this job offers zero of the markers that you’re used to that say, “You’re doing great.”

“You don’t get grades or annual raises,” says Amy K. Bach, licensed clinical psychologist and clinical associate professor at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University.

The next problem: Chances are, you’re probably trying to be a different parent than what you had. It’s only natural. You want to be more involved and more concerned with how your child feels. You may have no model to base this on, so all you do is encourage your kids to be expressive. And then they do just that, with words and tears, and, “It looks like kids are more out of control,” Edlynn says.

As a decent amount of this happens out in the open, people feel free to share their comments that carry the implicit message that you’re not doing it like they would, which means you must be doing it wrong.

The judgment hits hard. You’d like to tell everyone off, but you can’t alienate your support system, regardless of how unhelpful they’re being in the moment. So what can you do? The path forward requires figuring out when to ignore, when to push back, and when to give yourself a break.

What To Remember When You’re Feeling Judged As A Parent

Parenting is not a smooth curve. Some days are good. Others make you wonder if you’ve ever known anything. It’s crucial to remember this.

“There’s not an easier version you’re missing out on,” Edlynn says. And regardless of your approach, “There will be people who disagree,” Bach says. “Prepare for it and it won’t be such a sting.”

That chase for perfection isn’t expected in any other endeavor. It makes even less sense when it comes to parenting.

The comments are still going to come, and sometimes it’s not bad to react. But before you say anything, think about why people feel the need to “share”. They might see what you’re doing and be worried. They might feel self-righteous in their opinion. They might think they’re helping and would want someone to do the same. They might feel anxious because what you’re doing looks foreign to what they did as a parent or what they grew up with.

“It can feel like a judgment, but it doesn’t make it a fact,” Bach says.

It also doesn’t mean it’s totally false. You want to consider if there’s any validity with what’s being said. That shred of truth gets you to improve. Then you and your partner have to be clear on your priorities as parents. It means questioning what you grew up with and whether the stuff “that’s always been done” makes any sense. If you don’t examine what you’re doing and shore up your knowledge, you end up mindlessly sounding like your parents.

“You’re just shooting from the hip,” says Pamela Monday, marriage and family therapist in Austin, Texas.

When you get that list of what matters, you have both a guide and a reminder that, “We need to laugh.” It doesn’t fix everything but you’re reacting less and more confident in your decisions.

Now you can directly address what bugs you about the person’s comments. The words are your own, but it should go something like, “I know you love my kids and I trust you, and I know I’m going to make a lot of mistakes, but I need the space to do that. The feedback isn’t helping me right now.”

“If you don’t say anything, you’re doing nothing on your behalf. If you’re just tolerating it, you’ll get more and more resentful and defensive.”

You’re setting a boundary, which could spark some defensiveness, but take that as a good sign. “It means you nailed them,” Monday says. You might instinctively avoid this kind of conversation because of the awkwardness. But sucking it up doesn’t help. “If you don’t say anything, you’re doing nothing on your behalf,” she says. “If you’re just tolerating it, you’ll get more and more resentful and defensive.”

You’ve also established a reference point. When that person pipes up again, rather than rehashing, you can hold up your hand and say, “This is one of those times.” They won’t remember at first, but with what Monday calls your “broken record line”, you’ve given them a nudge.

“It interrupts that unconsciousness,” she says, adding that it might not immediately take hold, but, “They will get it.”

In your exchange, you can also add, “You know what would help …” and then tell them. You’re bringing them in, and annoying comments aside, if they’re willing to help, you want to take it. Kids benefit from other voices. It gives you a break, and it might give your “expert” relatives a taste of not what kids are like, but what your kids are like.

Find Others Who Know What It Feels Like

There’s no guarantee any of this will stick. The people in question can still judge away, and think the job is easy because they’re leaving after a two-hour shift and are well-rested. They’ll probably never fully understand your situation so the judgments won’t vanish and neither will your frustration.

What helps is to find other dads and share stories. “They’re living a similar experience,” Bach says. They’ll appreciate hearing that “they’re not the only one” and they’ll feel less alone, making you feel the same.

Here’s another big reminder. Parenting is a huge industry with books, classes, and promises of never yelling ever again. “It’s all an “illusion”, Edlynn says, yet another kind of judgment and ridiculous standard to make you feel like you’re coming up short. That chase for perfection isn’t expected in any other endeavor. It makes even less sense when it comes to parenting.

“It’s impossible to do a job of this many hours in a day and for this many years and not make mistakes,” Bach says. “The best you can do is reflect and learn. That’s how you get better.”

On Friday, December 1st, Dallas Mavericks superstar Luka Dončić was listed as “out” against the Grizzlies for personal reasons. Just hours later, those personal reasons became ultra-clear after Dončić announced he had welcomed a newborn daughter with his long-time fiancée Anamaria Goltes, who they named Gabriela. They had not publicly announced that Anamaria was expecting — so the announcement of Gabriela’s birth came as quite a surprise to the rest of the world.

Dončić and Goltes announced the birth with a simple Instagram photo of him and Goltes holding their newborn daughter’s hands. When Dončić did return to the court the very next day, on Saturday, December 2nd, for a home game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he did so with a brand-spanking new custom upgrade to his Jordan Luka 2s — an upgrade dedicated to baby Gabriela.

Dončić hit the court in a pair of white/tan Luka 2s with pink accents. Next to the pink Jumpman on the bottom of the shoe, Dončić — or someone else — handwrote his daughter’s name, Gabriela, in all caps, with a heart, in black ink. Man, those are clean shoes.

While the Mavericks didn’t take home the dub that night against OKC, Dončić and his team put on a veritable masterclass in scoring — Luka alone racked up 36 points, 18 assists, and 15 rebounds. He and the team also put on a 30-0 run in the second half of the game — an apparent franchise first, per CBSSports, but not enough to overcome OKC.

Perhaps new fatherhood is fueling Luka. In a post-game interview, Dončić put the arrival of daughter Gabriela short and sweet: “First of all, it was the happiest day of my life.” He added: “I got the baby, but then today's game was a big rollercoaster, too. I'm so sad we didn't win this game, but man, we gave a big, big effort." Is Luka already leading by example for his newborn daughter on how to graciously accept loss and have a winner’s attitude? (He’ll also have to teach her the art of court trash-talk, too.)

As for the Jordan Luka 2s — while the colorway Dončić donned for Saturday night’s game doesn’t yet appear to be on sale, other colorways are, including “Trick Shot,” a white, light blue, and green sneaker, and “The Pitch,” a multi-colored sneaker that’s an assault on the senses (and the court. In a good way.)

Congratulations to Luka and Anamaria!

After a brief hiatus following Thanksgiving, Saturday Night Live was back for another new episode and continued its recent run of delivering legitimately hilarious sketches. The mega-talented Emma Stone returned for her fifth time hosting the show, and, as a result, was given the requisite “Five-Timers” blazer. Featuring surprise cameos from legends Tina Fey and Candice Bergen, Stone’s opening monologue was great, but it wasn’t the absolutely best thing in the latest SNL.

Here are the three most brilliantly hilarious sketches from the Emma Stone Saturday Night Live episode from December 2, 2023.

3. Question Quest

We don’t know anyone who was given a tortoise as a pet when they were kids, but as this sketch points out, that’s a huge commitment! Because tortoises live so freaking long, we’re not actually sure any kid would want one as a pet. As this sketch points out, you might scar a future adult for life if their childhood pet is destined to outlive them.

2. Fully Naked in New York

File this one under so-random-it’s-perfect. Since the days of Andy Samberg, SNL has been giving us hilarious and weird music videos. From “D*ck in a Box,” all the way up to the recent “Rome Song,” the pre-recorded (very much not live) Saturday Night Live are often the best part. With “Fully Naked in New York,” Emma Stone and Bowen Yang briefly convince us they’re in an actual musical. Come for the hilarious opening, and stay for the inexplicable jokes about taking out trash while only wearing gloves.

1. Make Your Own Kind of Music

In what is perhaps one of the smartest, most subversive SNL sketches in recent memory, Emma Stone plays a chain-smoking 1960s record producer obsessed with thinking about how a sweet Mama Cass song will be used in blockbuster movies decades later. Skewering the modern trend of juxtaposing a happy song with violent imagery, Emma Stone and Chloe Troast are not only perfect together, but the writing is spot-on. Needle drops can be cool moments in big TV shows or films, but there does seem to be an overreliance on this kind of thing, since perhaps, the 1990s.

Stone is goofy as hell here, alternating between great physical comedy and awesome jokes. And yes, Troast makes us believe that legendary musicians of the past would probably be horrified if they saw how their tracks are being deployed today.

SNL streams on Peacock.

Thirty-five years ago Police Squad!, a detective show spoof that was canceled after just six episodes, was then adapted for the big screen in the surprise 1988 blockbuster The Naked Gun. The movie was as commercially successful as the show that inspired it was unsuccessful. It was a huge hit with myriad demographics but it had particular appeal to dads. Or, should we say people who love “dad jokes.” Here’s why The Naked Gun holds, thirty-five years later.

The dad appeal is somewhat obvious: It’s a detective show comedy that climaxes at a baseball game filled with real players (most notably Reggie Jackson) and announcers and partially because its humor veers unmistakably into the realm of dad jokes: puns, wordplay, shtick and other cornball forms of humor that our children reluctantly tolerate if we’re lucky. Think of perhaps the most famous and iconic line in Airplane. It comes after Leslie Nielsen asks Robert Hays’ Ted Striker if he can fly and land the plane they’re on with a look of intense seriousness. The traumatized pilot replies, “Surely, you can’t be serious”, to which Leslie Nielsen retorts: “I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”

That is more or less a pure dad joke. It’s a minor variation on responding to “I’m hungry” with, “Hi Hungry, I’m Dad.” It's a gag rooted in homophone confusion that became legendary in the annals of film comedy, not because of its sophistication or nuance but rather because of its perfect deadpan.

The Naked Gun is full of dad jokes that inspire a sort of double laughter, where you laugh at something you really shouldn’t, then laugh at yourself for finding something so silly laugh-out-loud funny. In a representative example, Frank Drebin delivers a deadpan monologue about a romance gone wrong to love interest Jane Spencer (Priscilla Presley) that ended with her dying in a blimp accident. When Jane inquires, “Goodyear?” Frank responds obliviously and inevitably, “No, the worst year.”

It shouldn’t be funny but in this context it’s hilarious. Writers David and Jerry Zucker stumbled upon a winning formula that executed cornball jokes and cheesy gags with a faux-seriousness that made everything funnier. In Airplane, they deliberately sought out dramatic actors like Lloyd Bridges, Peter Graves, Robert Stack, and Nielsen. They guessed correctly that these dramatic actors could get bigger laughs playing dad joke comedy seriously than professional funnymen could by hamming it up.

Police Squad! was even more deliciously deadpan than Airplane! It mastered the visual vocabulary of detective shows so completely that unless you were paying close attention it would be easy to mistake it for what it is parodying. And, The Naked Gun continued this proud tradition. Nielsen was still playing it straight at this point in his career. He was still the dramatic TV actor who was hilarious in movie comedies precisely because he seemed so out of place. It’s safe to assume that The Naked Gun’s verbal comedy, comic craftsmanship and unusually restrained approach to parody didn’t make anywhere near as strong an impression on audiences as a series of slapstick set-pieces.

When dads look back lovingly at The Naked Gun, the first thing that pops into their head is probably some brilliant piece of physical comedy executed by masters of the form, like the climax at the baseball game, easily one of the best pieces of sports-based comedy ever, or Frank Drebin sliding across a table with the Queen.

Audiences wanted more and more is what they got, both in the inferior sequels The Naked Gun 2 and The Naked Gun 3: The Final Insult and a series of dud wannabes, many starring Leslie Nielsen at his broadest. Basically, Nielsen was a victim of his own success. He was so hilarious in Zucker Brothers movies that people assumed that he was naturally hilarious when he needed good material and collaborators like The Zucker Brothers.

There’s a wonderful moment in the baseball game set-piece that anticipates the direction Nielsen’s career would be heading in the aftermath of The Naked Gun’s massive success.

The detective is going undercover as a major league umpire during an Angels game where a player has been brainwashed, The Manchurian Candidate style. He calls the first pitch tentatively as a strike. It gets a response from the crowd so Frank begins hamming it up shamelessly. Every pitch inspires an elaborate bit of physical business. At one point, through the magic of body doubles, he even Moonwalks in an effort to further whip the crowd up into a frenzy.

That’s pretty much what was happening to Nielsen and his career. A dramatic actor largely relegated to supporting parts was suddenly being laughed at by an adoring public that seemingly couldn’t get enough. Studios threw great gobs of cash and lead roles at Nielsen. It’s easy to see how he could be seduced into accepting an endless series of thankless roles in dire The Naked Gun knockoffs.

But before things too silly and too broad the Zucker Brothers and their leading man of choice delivered an instant classic that could only be more dad-friendly if it included a lengthy set-piece at Home Depot or a Civil War historical site.

Yes, The Naked Gun traffics shamelessly in dad jokes. It loves the kind of cornball gags we tell our perpetually unamused progeny. The key difference is that in The Naked Gun, the dad joke humor isn’t just funny: it’s hilarious on a historic level.

The Naked Gun is streaming on Max.

On any trip to a convenience store, it’s hard to avoid the red hot spices thrust in your face. From Takis to Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, there’s a fetish for spice in snack foods right now — and it represents a serious health hazard.

Take, for example, the 'One Chip Challenge' — a viral internet challenge in which you consume a Paqui chip flavored with Carolina Reaper, which previously held the Guinness World Record for hottest pepper. The challenge gained popularity through social media, but it’s been blamed for making several children ill, hospitalizing others, and even killing one teenager.

But the One Chip Challenge is an extreme example. Not a spicy food so much as a weaponized delivery system for capsaicin, the One Chip Challenge highlights the potential dangers associated with pushing spice to the extreme. More pressing to kids is the health risk that everyday spicy foods presents to their diet.

This might be confusing given the prevailing (and well-evidenced) notion that spice, especially capsaicin, found in the skin of chili peppers, is good for you. One study, for example, found that people who eat spicy food nearly every day have a 14% lower chance of dying early than those who eat it less than once per week. Other studies have found that capsaicin can help increase metabolism, boost heart health, help manage weight, and reduce inflammation and pain.

So spicy food is good, but that doesn’t make spicy junk food any less, well, junky. The reason kids love their Takis, a spicy Mexican rolled corn tortilla chip, isn’t for the heat (or at least not just the heat), but mostly for the extreme salt and sweet that’s used to counteract it. Popular spicy snacks like Flamin’ Hot Cheetos or Spicy Sweet Doritos are high in calories, carbs, fats, and salt while providing little nutritional value. One 28-gram serving of Takis contains 140 calories and a whopping 1,464 milligrams of sodium, which is more than 60% of the recommended daily value.

How To Introduce Your Kid To (Healthy) Hot Foods

When it’s not loaded up with sugar, spicy food is great for you — and your kids, even if they have little tolerance. The way to really up how much spice they can handle is, as ever, with healthy foods.

When introducing young kids to heat, Erin Palinski-Wade., a registered dietitian and author of 2-Day Diabetes Diet, suggests starting kids with mild spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, or paprika to allow them to “become familiar with new flavors without overwhelming their taste buds.” She adds, “If they show interest in spicy food, let them try it, but encourage them to listen to their bodies and stop eating if it becomes too uncomfortable.”

A great option for easing your kids into spice is making homemade hot sauce from fresh chilies. This way, you can control what ingredients go into the hot sauce and its spice level.

If you don’t have the time and want to go the store-bought route, consider buying reputable hot sauce brands like Cholula or Frank’s Red Hot. These brands are known for using simple ingredients and contain no added sugars. For those seeking a low-sugar sriracha substitute without compromising on flavor, try Yellowbird's Serrano Condiment. It offers a similar kick with a focus on fresh, natural ingredients and is free of added sugars.

But don’t put the hot sauce or sriracha directly in the meal you serve the whole family. “Try serving spicy sauces or salsas on the side. This allows each person to add spice to their liking,” Palinski-Wade says.

You can also add chili peppers directly to homemade tacos or introduce chili-infused dark chocolate as a sweet treat.

Pairing spicy foods with dairy or fat can help as you get used to them. “Capsaicin is soluble in fat, so incorporating dairy products like milk, yogurt, sour cream, or cheese can help mellow the spiciness,” Palinski-Wade says. “High-fat foods like nuts and nut butters can also dissolve the oils in capsaicin, making the spice less potent.”

I learned the power of my thumb on Friday, October 14, 2022. That was the day Blink-182 released the first single for their newest album. All I wanted to do was drive around, run some errands, rock out and enjoy it. The sun was shining. The air was cool and crisp. And I was vibing along to my favorite band, in a very good mood. Then I tried to change lanes.

A gaudy black SUV was diagonally behind me, with more than enough room to let me over. But it didn’t. Instead, as I flashed my turn signal, it sped up just fast enough to block me from merging. I got a look at the driver, who I pegged as a mid-50s lady with short, salt-and-pepper hair, ghastly jewelry, and dark sunglasses with lenses the size of drink coasters. She looked like Elliot Gould from Ocean’s 11, if that helps.

I don’t know what it was that caused my next move. Maybe it was the sounds of rebellious pop punk from my youth, combined with the lack of patience for bullshit that comes with middle age. Whatever the impetus, I honked my horn, got her attention, then lifted my hand. But it wasn’t my middle finger that I flipped up. Instead, I showed her my thumb, and it was turned down. Yes, I gave that vexing driver a thumbs down, and it was exhilarating. Her reaction wasn’t anger, or even self-satisfaction. She was confused. Genuinely puzzled. Like she’d just read a review of herself online. And that’s when I knew I’d struck gestural gold.

That’s when I knew I’d struck gestural gold.

Prior to my discovery, I was a frequent middle finger flipper. I admit, even the slightest motor foul committed by another driver would, in my mind, justify throwing them the overused, vulgar gesture. I was frivolous, careless, and wasteful with an expression that meant something really serious. Well, at one point it did. Now, the middle finger has become a watered down version of a once-powerful insult. The gesture’s overuse has diluted its potency and, as a result, makes it easily dismissed and blown off by most recipients. It also highlights the casual way so many of us are so quick to insult one another.

The thumbs down, though? It’s subtle. It’s a bit more dignified. And, based on my use of it over this past year, it checks all the boxes the middle finger once did with none of the crassness. When I turn my thumb at someone, people look confused, humiliated, disgraced, and annoyed. These drivers were put on notice. I caught them, and let them know I wasn’t so much angry as I was disappointed.

We live in an angry world, which is often conveyed in hollow and meaningless ways. It’s a constant barrage of anonymous social media comments, faceless text messages, and stale, canned reactions like casually flipping someone the bird. We can do better. I think we can be better.

I wouldn’t begrudge anyone the satisfaction of a genuinely good middle finger. There are certainly instances when, if used properly, it’s the best gesture for the job. And boy can it feel good.

The middle finger is an aggro-rock, heavy metal salute. The thumbs down is drama.

But with recent statistics showing that the number of road rage injuries and deaths has climbed every year since 2018, the middle finger can be dangerous if taken too seriously by the wrong idiot. The thumbs down is, in a way, much friendlier. The middle finger is an aggro-rock, heavy metal salute that could potentially incite violence. The thumbs down is drama. It’s “commuter theater”. It’s the Jazz Hands of road rage, a silent “booooo!” with enough razzle-dazzle to maybe shock people into self-reflection.

And, let’s not forget, it’s better for kids. Ideally, we’d all set a perfect example by taking the high road and completely ignoring bad drivers in front of children. But, let’s be honest — some of those drivers deserve their comeuppance, and we’re only human.

With a thumbs down, you don’t have to worry about your kid being present to or mimicking a nasty, boorish habit in front of the wrong crowd. In fact, if their teacher caught them throwing a thumbs down at another student who wronged them, they’d probably get a gold star for effectively communicating their emotions without resorting to filth.

Okay, maybe not. But the reactions I’ve gotten when giving a thumbs down have all been different. The ones I remember the most are those where a smirk or hint of amusement spreads across the face of another driver, seeming to admit, “Alright. You caught me. I was being a jerk in my car. I’m sorry.”

Who knows if that’s actually what they were thinking? But it definitely wasn’t, “I’m gonna beat the #$%^ out of this mother $%^&er because he gave me the middle finger and I need to re-establish automotive dominance.” For me, the threat of those days is in the past. In fact, I doubt I’ll ever use the middle finger again. At least until the day someone dares to give me the thumbs down.

In a recent interview, celebrity couple Katharine McPhee and David Foster aired out a household debate they’ve been having regarding when to discipline their two-year-old toddler Rennie — and boy, is it relatable.

"I want to start disciplining [Rennie], and Kat's not really down with that," Foster recently told People.

"No, that's not true," McPhee responded. "I just want to discipline in my own way. There's the more old-fashioned way of disciplining which involves time-outs and things like that. My take is that you can have more mindful parenting as opposed to just assuming that a two or three-year-old can have time alone to reflect on what they've done poorly.”

This back and forth is likely familiar to any parent. The question of how to discipline toddlers is an internal (and external) debate most moms and dads face while confounded by the irrational behavior and mood swings of young children. What does our discipline style look like? How can we be consistent? When should we start? The topic is complex and multilayered, and discussions involve everything from personal valus to the pros and cons of different parenting styles — the latter of which is especially of concern when those differences may be generational.

Foster, 74, has already raised five adult children and is 34 years older than McPhee — literally a generational age difference. In and of itself, that’s not necessarily a big deal. But in light of current research and cultural norms, many parents similar in age to 39-year-old McPhee are moving away from the harsh and inflexible parenting tactics that older generations experienced as kids and practiced on their own children.

Foster is one of those older parents. McPhee put it this way: "David's more results-based. He's like, 'He can't just walk by and swat people,” says McPhee, referring to Rennie. "Of course not. But he's two and a half and he's learning those things. It's just a different approach. I think his era of parenting is different than mine."

In Foster’s defense, he’s probably seen times when the pendulum has swung from the authoritarian-style parenting that defined his generation to a more permissive style where entitled kids are allowed to walk all over their parents. But there are plenty of folks calling out that type of jellyfish parenting and advocating for a more authoritative parenting style that seeks to balance healthy boundaries with emotional presence.

The transition toward more positive discipline models is at least partially rooted in a better understanding of cognitive development and also grounded in a deeper understanding of social-emotional learning.

So, in the case of a misbehaving toddler — perhaps one walking by and swatting people — what does discipline that works actually look like?

Some of the most helpful practical advice comes from the American Academy of Pediatrics guide “10 Tips for Preventing Aggressive Toddler Behavior,” which includes child-focused and parent-focused strategies. It offers clarity between the differences in discipline and punishment and advice such as “until age three and sometimes later, children simply don’t understand the concept of punishment. Setting limits is a much better approach than punishment; most children will respond to clear, calm, and decisive limit-setting.”

Perhaps frustratingly to McPhee and Foster, neither of them is entirely wrong about how to approach discipline for little ones. (We should know — we’ve almost written the book on it.) Timeouts — perhaps one of the most popular versions of limit setting and/or punishment — can be helpful or harmful, depending on how they are implemented.

According to previous reporting from Fatherly anger, lecturing, yelling, excessively long timeouts, and a lack of reconciliation at the end of the timeout undercut their effectiveness. But a calmly implemented timeout can break the tension of a chaotic moment, and create space to calmly discuss why a child’s actions were hurtful or wrong and give them a chance at a re-do.

Like the rest of us, McPhee and Foster seem to be figuring it out as they go. But one indication they are on the right track — besides the fact that they are openly discussing their different approaches to parenting — is that they seem to have a grasp of the big picture, even if they’re figuring out the small steps it takes to get to that big picture.

“[Kids] learn how to how to have personal space and all those things over time. They have to have experiences where they have negative reactions from people more than just their parents, from teachers and fellow students. They get to experience it with life. So we'll just wait,” McPhee says. “Talk to us when he's three."

We know realism in children’s media is impossible, and probably not even desirable. But exposing our kids to things that are authentic, and reflect an experience they actually understand, is huge and also very rare. For this reason, countless parents hold up Bluey as a perfect representation of what family life is really like.

Bluey is also, sneakily, a cartoon that allows parents to be seen. But it’s not necessarily the greatest show ever when it comes to representing or directly relating to the authentic nuances of being an actual child. In fact, most cartoons — even the best ones like Bluey — struggle with this idea.

The kid characters tend to have one personality trait, and while that trait might be relatable, it often just ends up being as simple as “quiet” or “loud.” (Seriously, kids’ cartoon characters are often either just shouting or whispering.) Smart parents often look to great kids’ books to help find more full reflections of childhood in compelling narratives, all of which contain more nuance than what we see on our screens.

On a larger-than-life scale, you’ve got A Series of Unfortunate Events, which, unlike something generic like Harry Potter, gives us a variety of different personality types. But, like Potter, the Snicket universe is fantastical. It doesn’t comment on what actual children deal with. Most kids are not jumping from school to school and being pursued by Count Olaf (even if it feels that way sometimes.) Instead, most kids struggle with scarier obstacles: Learning to read, wearing clothes they don’t like, and wondering if they will ever have a true, best friend.

Enter the absolutely perfect early-age chapter books by Abby Hanlon, the Dory Fantasmagory series. Right now, the series spans six books, which began back in 2015. The latest tomb was published this year, in September. The books follow the titular Dory, a six-year-old girl with a big imagination, which often creates a kind of Secret Life of Walter Witty vibe. In one of the books, Dory’s massive imagination is likened to a swirl of vanilla and chocolate ice cream, in which the feelings and ideas of the real world and the world of pretend overlap emotionally.

In the pretend world, Dory has an enemy named Mrs. Gobble Gracker, a hilarious witch-like character who is hundreds of years old, sometimes wants to turn Dory into a baby, and other times, recruits her as a fellow pirate. In the real world, Dory has friends like Roseabelle, who wears unnecessary layers of skirts, and George, who throws up at the drop of a hat. Her older siblings can barely tolerate her, and her parents are often exasperated.

But Dory is never othered by the story, even if the characters struggle to understand her. She wants to wear a nightgown all the time, and often cannot be bothered to talk about an important subject at hand, and instead, fixates on a vintage bath toy that she can’t ever own. For parents with kids who have been accused of not understanding social cues, Dory is every quirky child. Through the hilarious stories penned by Hanlon, the uniqueness of Dory and her imagination is celebrated. Yes, the real world will often not accept her behavior, but that doesn’t mean her behavior is wrong.

For parents, the books are a breezy pleasure to read — you will laugh out loud a lot. And for kids who might be struggling to learn to read in the Kindergarten or 1st grade years, these books provide comfort. Dory isn’t a “smart kid,” but she’s not a “bad kid” either. She’s specifically interested in what she’s interested in, and as a result, is one of the most authentic characters to come out of kids' literature in decades.

It would be tempting to compare Dory to Romana from the immortal Beverly Clearly novels, but she is very much her own kid. Each of the six books takes kids through a different sect of social problems Dory is facing and always ends in a moment of sublimation or catharsis.

The world of Dory Fantasmagory is not ideal or adventure-driven. But, unlike so much kids’ media available to modern families, the Dory Fantasmagory books are funny without resorting to easy jokes, and above all, present the early-childhood point-of-view not as something to overcome, but a valid lived-in experience for the smallest humans among us.

Dory Fantasmagory Box Set (Books 1-4)

Amazon

Megan Fox is a mom to three boys — 7-year-old Journey, 9-year-old Bodhi, and 11-year-old Noah —and she’s put a lot of thought into how she wants to raise them to become good men when they’re older. Fox recently sat down for an interview with WWD to discuss her new book of poetry titled “Pretty Boys Are Poisonous,” where she shared her hopes as her kids grow into “honest and respectful” adults.

"It's very important for me to raise boys who are able to have a very deep emotional intimacy with their partner," she shared.

Fox hopes to achieve this admittedly lofty emotional parenting goal through modeling that behavior and by being transparent.

"It's very important to me that they are not liars, that they are able to be fully transparent and honest and respectful… at some point in their life,” said Fox. “I don't expect them when they're 16 to have a sacred love, but I do expect them at some point to get to that place because I am their first introduction into women and the way that I love them is going to influence the way they are allowed to love others when they go into a relationship.”

Fox’s statement comes on the heels of a book tour that gets deep to the heart of toxic masculinity and the plight of men in America through her angst-ridden, often biting poetry. “I’ve spent my entire life keeping the secrets of men, my body aches from carrying the weight of their sins,” says Fox of the collection.

Fox herself has admitted she has been drawn by “the bad boy types” in the past and has no problem airing her grievances with the men in her life. She is currently in a relationship with rapper/punk rocker Machine Gun Kelly and co-parents her sons with her ex, Brian Austin Green. Her relationships have been in the spotlight for her entire career — and she’s opened up publicly and said that not all of them were healthy, not by a long-shot.

But right now, her focus is on the next generation. “I hope that just through my transparency in the way that I engage with [my boys], in the way that I am demonstrative and affectionate with them, that allows them to love in a really healthy way," Fox said.

This approach to raising good, thoughtful kids draws on the social learning theory, which explains a child’s learning is done through observing the behaviors of others — both positive and negative.

“Kids do as they see, so role model the future you want your kids to see,” Shelly Flais, M.D., a pediatrician, single mom of three boys and a daughter, and author of the new book Nurturing Boys to Be Better Men told Fatherly about how to raise better boys.

As Flais discusses in the story, being vulnerable means sharing life stories, admitting when you don’t know what to do next in times of struggle or when your kids ask you a question, and apologizing when you’ve made a mistake. It can be a hard change for parents who want to be a stronger, more invulnerable guiding hand. Raising good boys is also about teaching them to fight against old gender norms and gendered messages we hear from a very early age.

It’s not easy to contend with a society’s worth of bad messaging about boys and men. No matter what you think of Megan Fox, by being open about the effort it takes to raise well-rounded, respectful kids, she’s destigmatizing that important, and hard to talk about, issue out loud — not just in her home with her boys but in front of audiences of millions.

Amid a Christmas carol landscape dominated by crooners, back in 2008, alternative rock band Weezer proved that there was room at the inn for electric guitar and hard drumming. An album that succeeded because it never tried to do too much, Christmas with Weezer still holds up today as an uncommon offering that serves up a unique take on traditional Christmas classics.

The simplicity that makes Christmas With Weezer work likely lies in the fact that it wasn’t conceived as an album but rather as the backbone of a mobile video game. The six songs, including “Silent Night” and “O Come All Ye Faithful,” were originally recorded for a Weezer-themed version of the unfestively titled “Tap Tap Revenge” app, which was similar to Guitar Hero and happened to be the most popular iPhone game of 2008.

It’s a genre of game that requires familiar tunes, so original songs and parodies were a no-go. Weezer would have to stick to the Christmas songs everyone knew and loved while putting their own spin on the decades-old classics.

That game received a harsh review from MTV, but fans loved it and created an absolute ruckus for the band to make the music available in a format that didn’t require incessantly tapping the screen of an iPhone 3. So Weezer jumped back into the studio to re-record the tracks and beef them up for release as an EP since the app had been treated as somewhat of a pet project driven by Weezer drummer and burgeoning mobile gamer Pat Wilson, who actually laid down the guitar tracks for the game.

Among the improvements Weezer made for the album were revising some of frontman Rivers Cuomo’s vocals and adding backing vocals from lead guitarist Brian Bell. But while they made the songs more robust, the band didn’t add verses or otherwise lengthen any of the tracks. Thus, the four-minute runtime for “Oh Holy Night” is a significant outlier as the only song on the album to exceed two and a half minutes.

Opting for depth without sacrificing brevity really paid off. For example, Weezer includes both a solid guitar solo and a key change in just under 90 seconds on “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” to open the album. Changing the drumming cadence for the chorus on “O Come All Ye Faithful” gives the carol an added punch of energy without cranking the volume so high that it doesn’t feel like a Christmas carol anymore.

And while Rivers Cuomo’s voice isn’t optimally suited for ballads, the earnestness of his singing is allowed to shine through by keeping the instrumentals at reasonable levels. Sure, Weezer’s version of “Silent Night” may include more dissonance than most versions of the song, but it captures the classic Weezer sound that leaves listeners feeling like that band is putting forth an honest effort without trying too hard.

It’s a Blue Album sound that, at the time, was a welcome return for Weezer fans. Earlier in the year, Weezer had veered hard into pop music territory with the Red Album, even though they had achieved plenty of success up to that point, making solidly alternative music. In some respects, Christmas With Weezer was a sign that even though the band was experimenting with different sounds, they still knew how to shred and could do so in ways few expected was possible.

Christmas With Weezer

Amazon

The Legend of Zelda changed gaming when it debuted in 1986, wowing players with a type of experience they’d never had before. It was the first Nintendo game to sell a million copies in the US, a feat topped by Japan achieving that same milestone in a single day. Today, it’s one of Nintendo’s hottest franchises, with the latest entry Tears of the Kingdom garnering high praise from everyone.

Decades before this new Switch game, there wasn’t any set standard for how a Zelda game should look or feel. After the success of the first game, a sequel was inevitable, but the creators wanted to make something very different compared to the first installment. Little did they know how much that choice would split fans for decades to come.

When Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was released in the United States on December 1, 1988, the critical reception was largely positive, but a fair number of kids who picked it up disagreed. Irrationally difficult to play and confusing to navigate, Zelda II was a far cry from what many 80s and 90s kids expected when they popped this golden cartridge into their NES. 35 years later, I dusted off my NES controller (or at least opened my virtual console on the Switch) to give this polarizing game a second chance. This time, from the perspective of a grown-up!

Zelda II begins a few years after the first game, as teenage Link discovers he’s conveniently The Chosen One to awaken Princess Zelda (a different Zelda than the princess rescued in the first game) after she was cast to an eternal slumber by an evil wizard ages ago. Meanwhile, Ganon’s minions still wreak havoc in Hyrule, intent on resurrecting their fallen leader with Link’s blood. Our hero must locate the Triforce of Courage to defeat the baddies once and for all, revive sleeping Zelda, and fulfill his destiny of becoming a hero. Everybody with me so far?

Seconds after booting up the game, players could tell this wasn’t the same game as last time. Zelda II isn’t an action-adventure game, but comes closer to an action RPG, with elements that may have inspired future Metroidvania titles years later. Gone was the isometric view, making way for a more traditional side-scroller. The only time we see the birds-eye perspective is when Link travels the overworld map, a new addition that shows how he sojourns across the various villages and dungeons scattered throughout Hyrule.

Searching for items is still an integral part of progressing the quest, but here Link can level up with experience points gained from slaying monsters, improving his swordsmanship and magical abilities, or increasing his health. Leveling up is never a chore, and grinding isn’t required to grow stronger. The issue is the random encounters with enemies on the overworld quickly become a tiresome chore. It’s no different from an RPG like Pokemon or Final Fantasy- wonderful for leveling Link up, but aggravating when you’re trying to go from Point A to Point B.

Zelda II has a steep — and some might say tedious — learning curve and the only way to overcome that is by mastering the sophisticated (for its time) combat system. Link learned some new moves for the sequel, including high and low thrusts, downward and upward strikes while jumping (a feature making its Zelda debut which wouldn’t return for years), and handy magic spells gained throughout the journey. The range of Link’s blade is pathetic, but his health is fortuitously generous to make up for it.

There are plenty of unfair elements within the gameplay, including the Castlevania-esque knockback when taking damage that often sends you careening into hazards like lava pits. Other than the Great Palace (the final section of the game), losing all your lives transports you back to the starting screen of Zelda’s resting place, erasing any XP you’ve gained en route to your next level-up. It’s no different than saving and restarting the game, but it’s a minor annoyance in a game filled with irritants.

It's no secret how unforgiving Zelda II can be, especially only two dungeons into the game. Early in this sequel, Link heads to where the first game ended – Death Mountain. This is one of the most punishing sections, a sprawling maze that leads to labyrinthian caves filled with powerful axe-wielding baddies. Surviving this arduous and lengthy trek is a pain, as you’re wildly underpowered after only clearing two other palaces. The second half of the game is a masochist’s dream, with no villages to refresh your health or magic, and loaded with swarms of relentless enemies. Learning their attack patterns will make things easier, but it’s still a formidable experience. It’s the kind of thing that can make a new player throw their controller down and rage quit the game, but if you stick with it, it does get better.

Zelda II might be more cryptic than its predecessor when it comes to knowing what to do next or where to go. Villagers offer sporadic clues to help (most famously, the worthless “I am Error” NPC who is still a meme today), but some events are truly confounding. How would anyone know to play the flute to access levels, use the hammer in a very specific spot to reveal a secret town within a forest, or even use a spell (the one literally named “spell”) to cause a hidden temple to erupt from the ground? Beyond buying Nintendo Power issue #4, or reading your friend’s copy that he took from his older brother, your chance of figuring it out on your own as a youngster was slim. Then again, games like this are why strategy guides were born!

Don’t mistake “difficult” for “challenging” when discussing Zelda II, because one of the hardest portions of the game is also one of their best. Before Link can scoop up the Triforce after going through the Great Palace, he has one final boss to face – Dark Link. The metaphor isn’t lost on this confrontation, as Link must overcome himself to truly become a hero. While there are cheesy tactics to easily win this mirror match, defeating Dark Link head-on without tricks is beyond satisfying.

I didn’t come into Zelda II as an adult with low expectations, but I was painfully aware of its reputation. Within minutes, I was surprised by how hooked I was on the game, and how much I wanted to continue playing. Yes, there was confusion about my goals, but the game is fairly linear once you have an idea of what you need to do next to progress. While there were far too many overworld encounters, I started to enjoy the battles, and especially diving into the palaces scattered on the map. At times, the game is chaotic and has its share of infuriating moments. But, I kept coming back to it, chipping away until I saw that glorious end-screen. Victory hadn’t tasted this sweet in ages.

Zelda II moves to the beat of its own drum, and you either get it or you don’t. It's understandable why so many kids who grew up with it have bad memories of this sadistic game. Yet, after beating it as an adult, I was eager to replay it, more efficiently now that I was cognizant of the game mechanics. Even though I had the option to use save states, I refused, learning from my mistakes to persevere. It requires dedication and patience to overcome, but it felt great seeing that victory screen in the old-school way it was meant to be seen. While Link’s sword in this sequel was a little rusty, Zelda II is a highly rewarding experience that grew better with age.

Zelda II is available on the Nintendo Switch as part of their online NES library.

Every relationship requires conscious fostering of intimacy. For you and your partner to grow with each other, you have to find ways to get to know each other better and listen more attentively. Yeah, this can take some hard work. But it doesn’t have to always feel like work! At least that’s the attitude taken by the recent crop of conversation and activity games for couples, many of which are developed in association with therapists or built on a therapeutic framework. These games — featuring dares, decks of cards with thoughtful prompts, and some sexy adventures — are genuinely fun. What’s more, they aim to advance the skills that make a relationship work, whether you’re having conversations in areas you and your partner might never have covered, or just having fun getting to know each other again. Here are some of our favorite games for couples.

Healthier Together

Healthy Convo Co.

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Where Should We Begin?

Esther Perel

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We’re Not Really Strangers: Couples Edition

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The Adventure Challenge: Couples Edition

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Intimacy Deck

Best Self Co.

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Love Lingual

Love Lingual

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Get Closer Conversation Game: Couples

Intelligent Change

Good music is good music, and one of the best albums — and band — that never existed is coming back after a 38-year hiatus. The iconic return of the fake band Spinal Tap is coming true with the help of music legend Paul McCartney, among others. Yes, This is Spinal Tap is coming back to life with a new sequel nearly four decades after the cult classic original!

“We’re making a sequel,” Rob Reiner, the director of the original 1984 mockumentary, said on the “RHLSTP with Richard Herring” podcast recently.

The iconic and hilarious mockumentary about an English heavy metal band named Spinal Tap charmed audiences almost 40 years ago — and remains an iconic comedy that playfully poked at the stereotypes and drama of ‘80s rock. The movie quickly became a cult classic thanks to the bumbling bandmates who made it easy to root for them, and against them, when nothing seemed to go smoothly for them while on tour. The movie gave us classic quote after classic quote, and at the time of its release, famous touring musicians like Ozzy Osbourne and U2’s The Edge admitted that the mockumentary felt very real to them to the point that they didn’t realize, at first, that it was a comedic movie.

And now, finally, we’re going to get to revisit our favorite pretend band, and there’s a working timeline already. “We’re going to start shooting at the end of February,” Reiner said, “and everybody is back.”

According to Variety, everyone from the original fake band will reprise their roles; Harry Shearer, Michael McKean, and Christopher Guest are set to return as the band. The publication reports the new movie is also going to be filmed documentary style, taking inspiration from “The Last Waltz,” Martin Scorsese’s concert film that documented the farewell tour of the rock group The Band. But there will be some new faces, too.

Reiner said some new faces were joining the sequel to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the original, including real-life music legends Paul McCartney, Garth Brooks, and Elton John. As for whether or not we’ll get an album or a vinyl out of it, who is to say? And whether or not Paul McCartney will help write music for the movie or just simply be there to be a funny-man, even harder. But we’re all ready to turn it up to 11 — so long as none of the Spinal Tap members die in a mysterious gardening accident, that is.

As of this writing, there is no release date for the Spinal Tap sequel movie.

Even couch potatoes are able to knock out a rep of most bodyweight exercises. But many men who consider themselves fit can’t bust out even a single pistol squat. If you’re one of them, it’s a sign that you lack strength in your quads, hamstrings, and glutes, and your lower body flexibility is borderline dreadful. It also means you’re missing out on a highly effective bodyweight exercise.

Unlike other unilateral lower-body workouts that engage both legs (split squats, lunges) the pistol squat — a move where you squat on one leg while keeping your opposite leg extended in front of you — truly puts the demand on a single leg. The move requires serious quad strength, ankle and hip mobility, and balance to pull off — and it’s worth the effort to train up to it.

“Pistol squats are a great option for improving lower body strength when you have limited time or no equipment available,” says Alex Penner, an assistant strength & conditioning coach at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. “They work all the same muscles as your typical back squat while also challenging hip stability and ankle mobility.”

If you can’t yet do a pistol squat — or have never attempted one — this workout progression can get you there in eight weeks. Sure, that might seem like a long time to work on one move, but it takes time to develop single-leg strength and improve mobility in the ankles and hips — while ensuring you don’t injure yourself along the way.

The mobility exercises in this progressive series can be performed daily, even multiple times throughout the day if your schedule allows. At a minimum, train the movements three times per week. Add the strength exercises to your workout routine three to four times per week to strengthen the muscles needed for the pistol squat and train the movement pattern.

How To Build Up To A Pistol Squat

Weeks 1-2

Strength Movement: Single Leg Box Step Down

How To Do It: Stand on a short- to medium-height box or weight bench. Keep your left foot off the box as you balance on your right foot. Push the hips back and bend at the right knee to descend and step down, tapping the left heel on the floor before driving the right foot through the box to stand up. Three to five sets of 8 to 10 reps per side. Increase box height weekly.

Mobility Movement: Half Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch

How to Do It: Place your right knee on the floor and step your left foot forward. Keep your torso tall as you gently push your hips forward, squeezing your right glute. Hold the stretch on each side for 30 to 40 seconds. Repeat two to three times per side.

Why We Love It: This stretch mobilizes your hip flexors and quads, helping you perform a smooth squat.

Weeks 3-4

Strength Movement: Single Leg Squat to Box

How To Do It: Stand three to four inches from a box or weight bench. Facing away from the box, stand tall and lift your right foot in front of you. Push the hips back and bend the left knee as you descend into a single-leg squat on your left foot — you won’t be bending down all the way into a full squat. Once your hips tap the box, push through your left foot to stand tall. Repeat on the right side. Three to four sets of 8 to 12 reps per side, decreasing the height of the box every few days so you squat lower.

Mobility Movement: Single Leg Calf Stretch

How To Do It: Stand tall with the ball of your foot positioned on a stair or other elevated surface, two to three inches off the floor. Slowly lower your heel towards the ground, feeling a stretch in the calves and achilles. Repeat for a total of three to four 30-second holds.

Why We Love It: This stretch improves flexibility in the calves and achilles while improving ankle mobility.

Weeks 5-6

Strength Movement: Assisted Pistol Squat

How To Do It: Grab onto a squat rack, a pair of gymnastic rings, or any anchored equipment. Begin standing and lift your right leg in front of you. Slowly bring your hips back as you bend at the left knee to squat on your left foot. Drive your left foot through the floor to stand up. Use as little assistance as needed to perform the assisted pistol squat. Three to four sets of 8 to 12 reps per side.

Mobility Movement: Extended Arm Lizard Pose

How To Do It: Begin on your hands and knees on the floor. Step your right foot forward to the outside of your right hand. Let the left leg go long behind you. Reach both arms straight out away from your torso. Gently lower your chest toward the floor, feeling a stretch in the right hip. Hold the pose for 30 to 60 seconds, then switch to the other side. Repeat two to three times on each side.

Why We Love It: This stretch helps mobilize the ankles, calves, hamstrings, quads, and glutes. Keeping the rear leg straight improves flexibility in the hip flexors.

Weeks 7-8

Strength Movement: Counterweight Pistol Squat

How To Do It: Grab a light dumbbell or kettlebell. Begin standing and lift your right leg in front of you. Slowly bring your hips back as you bend at the left knee, pushing the dumbbell or kettlebell away from your chest as you squat. Drive your left foot through the floor to stand up. Repeat on the left leg. Three to four sets of 8 to 12 reps per side.

Mobility Movement: Lizard Pose

How To Do It: Begin on your hands and knees on the floor. Step your right foot forward to the outside of your right hand. Let the left leg go long behind you. Slowly press your right elbow to the floor, feeling a stretch in the right hip. Hold the pose for 30 to 60. Repeat two to three times on each side.

Why We Love It: A progression from the extended arm lizard pose, this mobility exercise intensifies the stretch in your ankles, calves, hamstrings, quads, and glutes. Lowering your upper body closer to the floor increases flexibility in the muscles crucial for executing a pistol squat.

It’s Pistol Squat Time!

At the end of the eight-week progression, you should be ready to perform the pistol squat. Your legs should be stronger, your hips more flexible. But if you’re not able to complete one, there’s no shame in running through the progressions again and spending more time with each step. You don’t want to rush through.

If you are ready, congratulations! Start by adding two to three sets of 2 to 4 reps per side at bodyweight to your leg day. As you build strength and confidence with this move, work up to two to three sets of 8 to 12 reps per side. Once that becomes easy, use a weighted vest to intensify the challenge.

Parents live in a constant state of worry. And one of the biggest things good parents worry about is our kids getting bullied or othered. Whether your kid is neurodivergent, non-binary, trans, quirky, or just likes to wear pajama pants to school when other kids are wearing jeans, parents always have to stick up for the specific way our kids simply exist. This job doesn’t end when kids become teenagers either. And as Donna Noble — a character imbued with Time Lord powers knows — sticking up for our kids is just as important as figuring out what to do with wibbly-wobbly temporal energy. In the latest and newest Doctor Who special, “The Star Beast,” Donna (Catherine Tate) gives parents everywhere words to live by. Mild spoilers ahead.

In the context of the somewhat complex Doctor Who mythos, “The Star Beast” is a soft reboot to new Doctor Who adventures, but also a direct sequel to the 2008 and 2010 episodes in which David Tennant’s titular Time Lord — the Doctor — had to erase Donna’s memories of traveling in space and time to protect her mind from burning up.

In “The Star Beast,” we rejoin Donna and her husband Shaun Temple (Karl Collins), who now have a 15-year-old daughter named Rose (Yasmin Finney). Rose is trans, which is discussed matter-of-factly in the episode, including in a very sweet moment in which Donna’s mother (Rose’s grandmother) wonders if she’s addressing Rose correctly. Donna acknowledges the clumsy mistakes the adults sometimes make — but the most powerful message in the new special is the way Doctor Who centers parental love as the thing that can save the universe.

Early in the episode, Donna tells her daughter Rose: “I would burn down the world for you darling. If anyone has a go, I will be there and I will descend.”

This is cool on several levels. First, this is just a moment all parents can connect to. If your kid is getting bullied, or not being understood by their teachers or peers, or whoever, all parents live by this motto.

The second reason this is awesome is that later, when Donna regains her memories and her Time Lord powers, she declares triumphantly in the face of alien adversity, “Donna Noble is descending!!”

Returning showrunner Russell T Davies has centered Doctor Who in family narratives since 2005. It’s not just the Doctor and a companion running away in the TARDIS, but often the entire family gets swept up in the action. In “The Star Beast,” we learn that the secret to Donna’s mind being able to handle the powerful Time Lord energy is simple: she became a parent. This too is a nice narrative for parents everywhere. Having a child doesn’t take away your old life, but in a sense, can turn you into your best, most powerful, and most capable self.

Doctor Who turn sixty this year, and began its life as a family show designed to teach kids about history through quirky time travel narratives. Today, it's an action-adventure show that doesn’t focus on “Chosen One” style heroes, but instead, lionizes the actions of quirky wanderers, and best of all, determined parents.

Is Doctor Who okay for kids?

“The Star Beast” is actually pretty family-friendly. However, there are some instances of soldiers being possessed by an alien force, and shooting rifles at the Noble-Temple family. The Doctor protects everyone, but that’s certainly something to note for younger kids watching. Also, the adorable furry creature, The Meep, is actually... SPOILER ALERT... very evil. So, if little kids think the Meep is cute, they may be freaked out when it reveals its true nature. Other than that, Doctor Who’s “The Star Beast” is probably fine for kids 7 and up, or younger kids who can handle Marvel or Star Wars movies. The Doctor is traditionally a non-violent hero, so, in a way, Doctor Who is automatically more family-friendly than most Marvel or Star Wars fare by default.

Doctor Who airs new specials and episodes on Disney+. “The Star Beast” aired on November 25. Upcoming episodes “Wild Blue Yonder” will air on December 2, and “The Giggle” on December 9. After that, “The Church on Ruby Road,” will air on Christmas Day, 2023.

Being as popular as Bluey has become, it’s nearly impossible to not find her face popping up in unexpected ways. There’s the typical merchandise like toys and games, but this lovable Blue Heeler from the Disney+ animated hit is appearing in the unlikeliest of places. From fruit snacks to housewares, it won’t be long before Bluey and her family gets their own fast food chain (“Yes, I’d like a small Duck Cake with that Curried Sausage combo, please”).

On November 20, Bluey: The Videogame arrived in stores, marking the first-ever console game for this Australian character. We had a great time playing it and suggested it’s worth trying for your family. Today, Bluey has just upped her game - figuratively - by being part of an official custom Xbox design. If it wasn’t for that recently released game, a pairing like this would be baffling, but even with that - it’s still a strange piece of merch! This will be one of the rarest Bluey products ever released, as well as one of the most unique, and we have the details on how you can try and get your hands on one.

Xbox sent Fatherly one of these custom consoles to show our readers, and even Romeo McFlourish would be taken aback by it! It’s freaking awesome.

The system is an Xbox Series X, which is the more powerful of the two current-gen Microsoft consoles. It’s no different than any Series X system as far as hardware and specs, but it’s arguably one of the most peculiar designs ever placed on a console. This might be the first time an iconic children’s cartoon character has been officially part of a system since Pikachu was on a Nintendo 64!

The design wraps around the console, with Bluey’s face on the front, her arms on each side, and dual Bluey: The Videogame logos on the left and right. It’s odd how well this rectangle works for her, but to be fair, all of the Heelers and other characters are pretty boxy so fitting on an Xbox isn’t much of a stretch.

The custom controller comes in the same color as Bluey’s fur pattern, with that signature sky blue for the body, while the bumpers, joysticks, and D-pad feature the darker parts of her markings. Bluey and Bingo are on opposite sides of the handles, adorably flossing till they can floss no more! Unofficially, I know the bumpers are the same as any Xbox controller, but they almost look like Bluey’s ears when you see them up close.

How to get the Bluey Xbox

Here’s the hard truth: You can’t buy this. At all. Both of these Bluey items are exclusive to the sole winner of a contest that Xbox is running. Neither the console nor the controller will be sold online or in stores, and there’s only one available to that grand champion. On the bright side, the way to get it requires the most minimal amount of effort, so little that even a Granny could do it without slipping on her beans.

All it requires is having a Twitter (X) account, then following Xbox and retweeting one of their official promotional tweets containing #BlueyXboxSweepstakes such as this post here before the contest ends. Entrants can do this once per person, meaning no duplicate accounts are allowed. You can read all of the fine print on their official rules page.

The sweepstakes started on November 28, and the entry period concludes at 8:00 p.m. PT on December 13, 2023.

The stakes are higher than “Pass the Parcel” using Lucky’s Dad’s rules, but it doesn’t require jumping through too many hoops to try to win this very special console. Make sure not to miss your chance or you’ll be screaming a lot of phrases besides “Oh, Biscuits!”

Bluey: The Videogame is available on Xbox X/S, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, and PS5.

While this product was sent to Fatherly for our consideration, this post is not sponsored by Microsoft, Xbox, or Twitter.

Adam Sandler has long been a style icon — at least for those of us who roll out of bed in a sweatshirt and just wear it the rest of the day. Countless paparazzi photos, red carpet events, and movie premieres have shown that Adam Sandler has a particular way of dressing, and that way is that he doesn’t give a sh*t. However, while his style has become somewhat of a viral sensation on TikTok in recent years (just look at the evidence), Sandler has been putting it down for decades. But if you ask him about it, he’s no fan of the way he looks.

Sandler was a recent guest on The Jennifer Hudson Show, and while sitting on the couch with Hudson, Sandler was in full dad-fashion with his colorful zip-up over his checkered button-up shirt, which he paired with a pair of basic pants, tube socks, and black sneakers. If you didn't know who he was, he might look like any dad making an errand run to the grocery store on an early Saturday morning — not a multi-millionaire movie-making mogul at a press call.

“What do you call your fashion and your swag?” Hudson asked Sandler after saying she would call his sense of style "chill gear" or being "mushed up." But Sandler wasn't sure how to answer at first.

“People talk to me a lot about it lately,” he said as photos of him in his typical look flashed on the big screen, and the audience giggled.

“I mean, that's just a man who opened a suitcase and threw stuff on,” he joked. “I don't know, it's, uh, my kids are mad at me ‘cause I wear those shirts now and said I'm sorry about it, every day I'm sorry for the way I dress.”

He said he doesn’t put much thought into his dad-vibe look. “Just whatever's clean in the closet, I go, ‘I'll take that,’” he admitted.

Whatever his style is — people love it. And it’s admittedly pretty replicable, whether you’re looking at his style from the past millennium or today. This look isn’t new to Sandler, who has always favored oversized shirts, basketball shorts, thick socks, and nice sneakers above anything. He’s worn this look when photographed going to the grocery store, while sitting courtside at a basketball game, walking on the red carpet at one of those star-studded events, or as a guest on a talk show.

“Apparently, you set a trend. Like, the kids have like Adam Sandler dress-up days," Hudson said.

An article published last year in Esquire touched on Sandler's style and the trend of #sandlercore. Across social media, kids who aren't as connected to Sandler, the actor who gave us Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, and The Wedding Singer, know him more as the fashion icon who favors comfort over anything and doesn't play by any rules of patterns, fabric, colors, or dressing for the event you're at.

According to InStyle Australia, his look garnered more attention during the pandemic when sweatpants and hoodies were cool again. Then, Sandler went viral last summer, and it hasn’t gone anywhere since. “It was only in 2022 that [Sandler’s] aesthetic was really recognized, taking off online with influencers sharing similar ensembles on TikTok and Instagram. As many have already noted, it's essentially the antithesis to the Hot Girl Summer look.”

Comfort is king in Sandler’s eyes, and we’re all for making the typical dad look more acceptable. Since the internet coined Sandler the fashion antihero he’s talked more about his personal sense of style, even if he himself doesn’t love it. And while you may not get away with wearing a polo shirt and oversized sweatpants to a fancy event with your family — in fact, you arguably shouldn’t try to — looking at #sandlercore for everyday life might just be the way to elevate your everyday wear. (Or at least, make excuses for it.)

You can watch the full interview from The Jennifer Hudson Show on YouTube.

Men get a lot of mixed messages about their friendships. Get too close to a pal, or react too enthusiastically about meeting another guy you click with, and people might joke you’re in a “bromance.” On the other hand, if you don’t have many close friends, and mainly confide in your wife, people might say you’re suffering from what’s been called a “friendship recession” among men – and as a result, you could be at risk for the negative health consequences that can stem from loneliness.

People with more friends are generally more satisfied with their lives, according to a recent Pew Research survey. Yet people of all genders have fewer close friends than they used to. In 1990, less than a third of people said they had three or fewer close friends, but in 2021, that figure grew to almost half, according to a survey by the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Survey Center on American Life. Half of Americans currently don’t think they have enough friends: Women were more likely than men to say they were completely satisfied with the number of friends they have, AEI also found, but the numbers weren’t wildly divergent – 54 percent compared with 48 percent of men.

While women have friendship struggles too, research suggests social isolation among men is increasingly common. Although half of men said they have between one and four close friends, 15 percent of men said they had no close friends at all in the AEI report published in 2021, a figure that rose from only 3 percent in 1990.

It isn’t just the number of friends men have that concerns some researchers, however. It’s whether men’s friendships are fulfilling in ways that encourage their emotional and psychological health. Only 21 percent of men said they received emotional support from friends, compared with 41 percent of women, the American Enterprise Institute researchers found. Nearly half of women (48 percent) and less than one-third of men (30 percent) say they have had a private conversation with a friend during which they shared their personal feelings in the past week. Men are less likely to have told a friend they loved them within the past week, and they’re much more likely to turn to their spouses, or their parents, rather than friends, when they have a personal problem.

Although half of men said they have between one and four close friends, 15 percent of men said they had no close friends at all.

Isn’t it possible, though, that none of those things above are necessarily a problem, if men don’t feel lonely or isolated? If men aren’t bothered that they only talk to their friends about video games and sports and rely solely on their wives for emotional support, is it that big a deal and a problem that needs fixing?

Maybe not, says Nick Bognar, a marriage and family therapist in Pasadena, California, and host of the podcast “More Exemplary.” But the negative effects of not having at least one deep friendship outside your marriage might not be obvious, he says.

Men with no close male friends simply might not know what they’re missing, Bognar says. He compares it to many men’s experience in therapy: If men were discouraged from ever crying growing up, they might realize in therapy what a satisfying emotional release crying can be, or, similarly, that it feels good to talk about their feelings with someone who cares about them. Things they didn’t know they needed, but that improved their emotional resilience once they did.

Having close friends can act as a buffer against loneliness and isolation, relieve some of the burden on your spouse and simply makes people happier. But nurturing and maintaining friendships isn’t always easy, particularly for men.

Why Men Have Such Trouble Making Friends

The overall friendship decline in the U.S. stems from many obvious factors. People spend more time working and moving around because of work, and they also spend more time with their kids than generations past did, which can make it more difficult to make friends and maintain friendships.

Gendered socialization might also have something to do with why men tend to have fewer close friends than women. Traditionally, men were socialized to be tough and not share feelings with others, while girls were encouraged to be caring, affectionate, and empathetic.

“Friendships often require expressed vulnerability and men are, I'd argue, conditioned against that,” says Paul Greene, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in New York City specializing in the treatment of anxiety.

Men have always prioritized friendships less than women. As a whole, they just don’t have close friendships that they actively nurture the way women do.

But it might also be, simply, that couples get comfortable in their roles, Greene says. Women tend to be more plugged into family life, kids’ schools, and the community than men. Some men might feel pigeonholed that their job is to focus on work and providing, while women might feel maintaining social connections are more their responsibility.

Sticking with what’s comfortable likely has a lot to do with why a lot of men only share vulnerable feelings with their spouses. But even if you don’t perceive it as a problem, your partner might – they might resent and feel emotionally burdened as your only support resource, Greene says.

For many men, the only relationship where they experience emotional vulnerability and connection is either with their mother or in a romantic relationship with a female, says Kurt Smith, Psy.D., a licensed marriage and family therapist who specializes in treating men.

“[But] a lack of individual friendships can place an unhealthy demand on partners,” Smith says. “I regularly hear partners (of both genders) complain about being their partner’s only social outlet. This puts a lot of pressure on them and can become suffocating for the growth of the relationship.”

Has the impact of increased social isolation and reliance upon online connections, rather than in-person contact, amplified this problem for men? Sure, Smith says. But it’s nothing new for men and goes farther back than the last few generations.

“Men have always prioritized friendships less than women,” he says. “As a whole, they just don’t have close friendships that they actively nurture the way women do.”

Deep, quality friendships take time and effort, and most men just don’t put enough of either into them.

However, Smith says that many men think they should have more or better friendships. In his experience counseling them, it’s less a mindset problem than an effort and prioritization problem.

“Most men are perplexed about where to start. And the biggest obstacle is making time to build them among all the other demands for our time,” he says. “Deep, quality friendships take time and effort, and most men just don’t put enough of either into them.”

How To Break The Male Friendship Barrier

Making the effort to strengthen existing friendships and expand a social circle can improve one’s life. Friendships can help people process thoughts and emotions, and doing so with someone of the same gender, outside of a romantic or competitive context, can be impactful, Smith says.

Connection with others enhances your self-esteem and, if friendships are reciprocal, strengthens your support system, Bognar adds.

If you’d like to make new friends, you need to put yourself in places where friendships can happen. Start by thinking hard about where your interests lie.

“Whatever it is, try to find some venue or group that can further that interest, whether it’s a cooking class, sports league, or group dedicated to lawn care,” Greene says. “There’s a possibility there for friendships with people who already share at least one of your interests.”

If you're able to be the person who reaches out, then you’ll benefit from more of these relationships.

Sports leagues in particular can provide good opportunities to find friends, he says: “You’re all working toward a common goal and hopefully having fun, which are conducive for forming positive relationships.”

To strengthen or deepen friendships, it’s important for men to look for opportunities to be supportive and to be supportive when they arise.

“If men have a friend in a difficult situation, say a health crisis or divorce, they have a choice to be there or not be there for their friend,” Greene says. “They can say, ‘Well, I’ll give him space and privacy during this tough time,’ or they can offer support. Men have more to gain than lose by saying, ‘Let’s get a drink on Thursday, or let me know if you just want to talk. I’m here.’”

It can also strengthen relationships if you’re able to be compassionate when friends express vulnerability, Bognar says. If you’re hanging out and a friend says, ‘God, I’m feeling so sad,’ is your typical response, ‘Okay. Do you want another beer?’ or something more supportive? Bognar asks.

But Bognar’s best tip for men interested in closer friendships is to be the one who reaches out.

“We're very happy when somebody reaches out and wants to spend time with us and wants to know how we're doing,” he says. “If you're able to be the person who reaches out, then you’ll benefit from more of these relationships. Because you'll get more yeses and will have more people around.”

We have a lot of masculine archetypes presented to us, where the guy is dismissive and uncomfortable with feelings. Yet there’s so much more strength demonstrated by being open about those things.

“Reaching out,” Bognar notes, means more than once. Sometimes, it might not work and your effort won’t be reciprocated. It helps to approach forging friendships as you would dating, he says: Sometimes it might work out, but often, it doesn’t, for a lot of reasons. If you’re open-minded about making friends and can handle rejection, then you’ll have a broad set of friendship possibilities available to you.

“We have a lot of masculine archetypes presented to us, where the guy is dismissive and uncomfortable with feelings. Yet there’s so much more strength demonstrated by being open about those things,” Bognar says. “Men are awesome friends; if you don't have close guy friends, you should try it. It can be a joy to have the support of someone going through what you’re going through and to feel closeness with other guys.”

They say that shopping for dads is difficult. We ask, how so? We are a demographic that is easy to flatter and easy to please. If you think of us enough to buy us something, you’re 90% of the way there. And that last 10%? Ok, that’s the tough part. How do you get us a gift that is unique and useful, something we’ll not just like but actually love? You’ve come to the right place.

For our 2023 list of best gifts for dads, we’ve curated products that we know and love, ones we can say with confidence stand out from the rest of the pack. We guarantee you’ll find something here to make him smile, smell good, look good, or feel cool.

Every product you see here is independently selected by our editors, writers, and experts. If you click a link on our site and buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Flint And Tinder Flannel-Lined Waxed Trucker Jacket

Huckberry

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Recess Classic Pickleball Set

Recess

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Sonos Roam

Amazon

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KOW Wagyu Steaks

KOW

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Finisterre Men's Bowers Jumper

Finisterre

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The Ice Pod

Pod Company

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Loop Switch

Loop

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Ooni Volt

Ooni

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MLB Stadium Blueprints

Uncommon Goods

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Kane Revive

Kane

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Topo Designs Fleece Cap

Topo Designs

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Air-Carrier Cargo Box

Flated

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Theracane

Amazon

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Joule Turbo Sous Vide

Breville

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Filson Watch Cap Beanie

Filson

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Optimus Prime

LEGO

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This 13.5 inch, 1508-piece Optimus Prime is everything an Autobot lover would desire. He comes with a blaster and energon axe and, yes, transforms into the iconic Freightliner FL86 cab without any reassembly.

Replica By The Fireplace

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NERF N-Strike Mega Mastodon Blaster

NERF

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ADIDAS Stan Smith Shoes

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Flexipan Dominique Ansel Cookie Shot Mold

Williams Sonoma

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Reebok Deck

Reebok

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L.L. Bean Men's Windproof Wool Gloves

L.L. Bean

No Reception Club Getaway Bag

No Reception Club

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Corridor’s K-Swiss Classic ‘66

Corridor

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Todd Snyder Linen Jersey T-Shirt

Todd Snyder

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Patagonia Storm Racer Jacket

Patagonia

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Vinyl Me Please Subscription

Vinyl Me

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The Heavyweight Overshirt

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Brumate Toddy XL

Brumate

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At Ease Hoodie

Lululemon

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A perfectly fine hoodie fits nicely and looks decent. A great hoodie seamlessly transitions from a workout to a dinner out. This one is the latter, and is breathable and double-knit, with secure zippered pockets.

Crossfade 3 Wireless

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Halden Boot

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Marcato Atlas Pasta Machine

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A-Game Hydro Hat

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Le Marke Organic Olive Oil

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Mercado Famous Whole Jamon Serrano

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Men's Hacienda LX Slipper

Hari Mari

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It makes sense that a company that makes award-winning sandals would make a fantastic pair of slippers. Hari-Mari’s Hacienda LX slippers’ full-grain leather upper is lined with genuine Texas shearling. Add memory foam-lined footbeds and rubber outsoles for outdoor use, and you’ve got the perfect dad slipper.

Challenger Bread Pan

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Seawool Fisherman Sweater by Wellen

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Momofuku Chili Crisp Hot Honey

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Reencle Composter

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The Our Place Cast Iron Perfect Pot

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Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap by Kiehl's

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Kindle Oasis

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Fellow Stagg FG Pour Over Coffee Set

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No Reception Club Getaway Bag

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Reversible Maple Edge Grain Cutting Board by John Boos

Butcher Block Co.

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John Boos cutting boards are choice of so many popular chefs and food personalities — and for good reason. Like all Boos boards, this one is hand-made in Illinois and made of sustainably sourced wood. This mape board features integrated chrome handles for easy lifting. One side is flat and the second side has an integrated juice groove to keep things clean.

The Daily Wear Detrola 43mm Watch

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The Elevated Cocktail Shaker

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Fulton & Roark Total Package

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Pepper Cannon by Mannkitchen

Mannkitchen

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Ground pepper creeps its way into a lot of dishes — and wearing your wrist out to grind 1/4 teaspoon of the stuff is never fun. This exceptionally well designed, heavier than it looks mill grinds more pepper per twist than anything on the market.

Voited Cloudtouch Indoor/Outdoor Blanket

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Spirited: Cocktails From Around the World by Adrienne Stillman

Phaidon

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Adrienne Stillman is the co-founder, editor-in-chief, and event director of Dipsology, a guide and community for cocktail enthusiasts. And this meticulously researched book showcases 610 cocktail recipes from the past 500 years, hailing from 60 countries. If he enjoys a libation, and is curious about the history of the Sidecar, this book is for him.

The Mehlville Carabiner

The James Brand

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James makes some of the finest everyday carry essentials you can buy. And just behold this thing of beauty. The carabiner is carved from a solid block of aluminum, has two sections for his EDC, and even has a bottle opener notch. No more missing keys, ever. The more he uses it, the more weathered it looks, which is the goal. One of those gifts that just makes every day a little better.

Wooden Slingshot

Hella Slingshots

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We're all about the latest tech, but sometimes, it's great to go old-school. And nothing is more old-school than this slingshot, handmade in San Francisco from forked tree branches and kitted out with a leather projectile pouch. Each is one of a kind. And each is gonna get dad outdoors and off his laptop.

M16 Folding Knife

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Sturdy yet compact, the M16 Folding Knife from CRKT is perfect for both camp use and everyday carry. The aluminum handle is lightweight but strong, and the D2 blade steel keeps its edge. The flipper-assisted opening is responsive and easy to use, while the button-style lock is solid and simple to deploy.

PEN E-PL9 Camera

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Don’t let the vintage look fool you, this is a modern camera filled with useful tech to help greenhorns take better shots, like autofocus and settings for closeups, sports, and portraits. Compatible with a suite of lenses that keep things interesting and also make this camera perfect to take on adventures or the kid’s birthday party where you can shoot in 4K video. Don’t worry, there’s a tilt-down screen so you can still take selfies, which you can then beam to a phone with wi-fi.

Spokane Laptop Sleeve by Herschel

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A gift that will never go amiss: A classic laptop sleeve. Just choose the size and color that works. This one has a padded, fleece-lined interior, and a quietly cool exterior.

Atacama Field Watch

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Vista 2 True Wireless Sport Bluetooth Earbuds

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The Vista 2 has some of the best sound quality we’ve heard in a pair of workout buds and features excellent active noise cancellation. Oh and 24 hours of battery life. You can drop them in water. In mud. In snow. And they'll be just fine.

Deluxe Skincare Set

Jaxon Lane

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When one of our favorite groomers raves about a new skincare line (Amy Komorowski works with Justin Theroux and Adam Driver, for starters), we sit up and listen. And this is one of her go-tos. This particular set has everything he needs for glowing skin: The brand's signature Bro sheet mask, plus an anti-aging moisturizer, a face wash, and a sunscreen. Founded by a husband and wife team based in San Francisco, the line combines efficacy with accessibility. Plus, we love sheet masks.

Tumbler Diamond Rolling Knife Sharpener Kit

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Book Fragrance by Commodity

Commodity Fragrances

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Fragrance doesn't need to be fussy — and shouldn't be. That's the ethos behind Commodity, which started as a Kickstarter campaign in 2013 and became the first direct-to-consumer fragrance brand. Now in its new iteration, after a relaunch, the brand retains its same commitment to simplicity and clarity. This particular fragrance is a heady, crisp blend of bergamot, cypress, and sandalwood, somehow both playful and intense at the same time. Sort of like him.

RollR 60 Wheeled Cooler

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Traveler 35L

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PT-R Weight Kit (100lbs)

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Chipper Foam Seat

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Made from recycled sleeping pad scraps, this barely-there 5½-ounce foam pad expands to a generous 13-x-17-inch egg-crate slab designed to take the sting out sitting. Take it camping to make sitting in a chair more comfortable, to a festival to keep turf stains off your pants, to the kid's games — or, more pragmatically, use it around the house as a kneepad when you’re under the sink.

Thule Aion Carry-On Spinner Wheeled Luggage Bundle

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The Ergatta Rower

Ergatta

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Because exercise equipment has a way of proliferating and is generally ugly, at-home workouts tend to require a sacrifice of one kind or another. The possible lone exception is the rowing machine: Rowing works 86 percent of the body’s muscles and can be as cardio-intense (or mellow) as you like, while improving joint flexibility. One of the newest and sleekest rowing machines, the Ergatta uses actual water resistance, which makes it as effective as it is quiet (as well as cool-looking, with its transparent reservoir). It’s got all the fitness potential of a traditional rowing machine, but packaged with cutting-edge, immersive technology (a reasonable $29/month) that keeps monotony at bay. The jewel in the crown, though, is its design: Handmade of cherry wood, it's the farthest thing from an eyesore, and it can be folded up and stowed away, so it works in even the tiniest of homes.

Air 2S Drone

DJI

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The one thing you don’t want to do is crash a $1,000 drone, so the Air 2S makes adjustments on the fly using four sensors that detect obstacles, so even amateur pilots can get killer shots or video. A big 1-inch camera sensor up front captures video in 5.4k with 8x zoom that you can power from an intuitive control from nearly 4,000 feet away. The tracking feature locks in on a person’s face, following them as the drone flies on autopilot.

R1 EVO Helmet by Sena

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Think of this bike helmet as a multi-tool for your head. Built into a comfortable, plastic-and-foam shell are a taillight, wireless speakers, a mic, and an intercom. Pair it with your phone to crank a playlist, take calls, get turn-by-turn directions, or listen to NPR through the speakers while still being able to hear ambient sounds — like someone passing on your left or a car’s horn. Get two — in group rides, you can use the intercom to chat with someone wearing the R1.

Co-op Outward Low Padded Lawn Chair

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Tool Bag by Readywares

Amazon

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Readywares, based in Seattle and run by two brothers, makes heritage-quality items that are durable and practical. So it's a win-win. And this bag is the ultimate gift for the DIY dad, the one who can never figure out where he left the drill bits or the screwdriver. It's made of waxed cotton canvas, has a smooth brass zipper, and 11 pockets. So there's a place for everything, and everything is in its place.

The Freestyle Indoor/Outdoor Projector

Samsung

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Backyard Duracord Hammock

L.L.Bean

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Just looking at this hammock drops your diastolic blood pressure. String this version up between two trees, or on a stand, and the generous 55-x-82-inch hammock will cradle him with an open back that prevents sweating in the summer heat. The cord is as soft as cotton, but the synthetic blend inhibits discoloration in the sun, is anti-microbial, and easy to clean with soap and water when the kids spill watermelon on it.

HW-S60B 5.0ch All-in-One Soundbar w/ Wireless Dolby Atmos

Samsung

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Forge 15 Grill

Hitchfire

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A propane grill that attaches to a hitch means more storage space in the truck, and after arriving at the campsite or tailgate, you’re cooking at a comfortable height — though it also detaches for tabletop use. The 335-square-inch cooking surface, with two burners, adds enough versatility to grill, use a pan, or boil a pot of water for coffee. And when you’re done, none of that greasy mess is in your car.

Lego UCS Razor Crest

Lego

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A perfect gift for a fan of The Mandalorian, this 6,187-piece build an enormous and intricately detailed recreation of the iconic ship. Five minifigures (including an excellent metallic Mando) round out the set, while details like Boba Fett's armor, a carbonite-freezing chamber, and an escape pod make it as fun to play with as it is to display.