Father's Day 2026 Special!

This week the podcast celebrates its special as fathers! 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:01

Hey everybody, this is Only Dads Podcast. This is uh our special Super Bowl episode. And when I say Super Bowl, I mean it's Father's Day. And this being Only Dads Podcast, this is kind of our Super Bowl episode to speak. We're recording on a Sunday, June 21st, about 6 10 PM Central Time. Uh we got a great episode for you today, guys. And if it's your first time joining in, this is just a couple of dads uh just doing the podcast, just on a Sunday, because that's the best time that we have that you know we can set aside some time or we just kind of go over different things, different topics, current events, and we follow you know our timeline of our lives and what things are going on in our in our our household. So without further ado, Ricky, it's Father's Day, it's a big weekend. Uh, I know you said you didn't have Tommy, but then you grab Tommy. So kind of tell me, welcome to your day today. What did you do for your Father's Day?

SPEAKER_00 0:51

Yeah, so I forgot that it was Juneteenth weekend. We don't go to work, right? Because I'm I'm doing the internship with the public defenders and the government agency. And so because of that, government shuts down on Juneteenth, and uh, which is actually really nice. I didn't have Tommy this weekend, which means Friday was just like my day. I was like, oh sweet, man, I do nothing. So I did a bunch of like resetting shit, you know what I mean? Like buying groceries, uh doing laundry, things like that. And then so because of that, I usually did it on Sunday, and now Sunday comes around and I completely forget it was Father's Day until like Saturday evening. I truly just completely just was not in my mind, you know. And um, I'm like, well, fuck, what am I gonna do? You know, and now, you know, because I'm not married, and so I'm like, well, you know, I could just continue doing it like a normal day, but then I was like, well, you know, let me spend some time with my boy. And I was gonna go for a bike ride by myself, and usually it's about like a 20-mile bike ride. Um, but then it just the weather was just so nice, like it was cloudy, but like not too hot. Um, and the humidity started going away because the sun was out earlier. And I'm like, you know what? I'm gonna call Kaylee, uh, my my son's mom, and see if she's okay with me picking Tommy up because you know, taking him for a bike ride. Usually she's really cool with that unless she's already like out and about because she's a poster, so like she'll you know take him to like stage houses and stuff. So I called her and it kind of worked out because she was gonna go uh to another house, like to show a house. Um, and she was getting him ready for that. And Tommy, I don't think he likes going to those things. You know, if you ask a kid, hey, do you want to go ride your bike or do you want to go like put signs for a house? Exactly. And so I called her, she's like, Yeah, it'd be perfect. And so I picked him up and we we ended up biking. It took us about uh 40 minutes, it was like a five-mile ride. Um and then we got done, and then he came over to my house until Kaylee was done, and then he played with the neighbor, and then him and the neighbor are playing outside, and then they come inside to play a video game. And uh yeah, and then so so we had like a nice little like a nice little uh hangout, me and him for a little bit until you know he went back with his mom, which is nice, and then I took a nap, and that that messed up my whole day.

SPEAKER_01 3:06

So, like you, I too also had this holiday creep up because it was Juneteenth on Friday, and usually on Fridays, we have Fortnite Fridays, and we'll pretty much do Fortnite for a few hours, and that's kind of way we can you know stay in touch and connect. And this didn't happen because you know, this Juneteenth, obviously, it's being a federal holiday, me being a post office employee. I don't have to work, so I didn't work, and that threw my day off because I missed Fortnite Friday. I was like, it didn't happen. So I had the kids this week. This was the week I had the kids, so I was like, Well, I want to make the best of the situation. So I took the kids and saw a movie. What movie? Drum Rope, do Toy Story 5. Are they milking the franchise? Absolutely they are. But did I go see it? Absolutely. Did I did I enjoy it? Absolutely, and I do recommend you guys go watch it because it was a good movie. And this kind of the theme of the movie was like I think it was really hit on the nose because it was talking about you know, smart devices, leapfrog, you know, things like that, screen time, and how kids don't play with toys anymore. And it's just all about the screen time and how there's all you know, there's cyberbullying, it kind of hit on all the topics. So I think it's a good movie to you go see with your family, kind of reset. Uh, so the kids enjoyed it. Um, and they always like sometimes they don't like the movie, but this time they did like the movie, so that was pretty cool. So they got and do that. And then I'm actually this week was the first week that the kids started swim lessons at the aquatic center, so they've been doing that. It's pretty cool. I was able to go with them because I didn't have I didn't have work that day, and it was pretty nice. They do these different acrobatic swims and these different treading water, these different techniques, and then like the last 15 minutes, they'll just throw these things in the bottom of the pool and the kids go get them. So uh that's pretty good that the kids I finally had the kids into that. Uh, I think the next thing I'm looking forward to is maybe getting them into some jujitsu because I've been to the jujitsu tournament where it's not like that bad, like it's just like kind of grappling, you know, wrestling. I think that's pretty cool. So I think I'm about getting them into that. But initial costs I'm looking at it like really expensive, so I gotta find one that you know it's within the budget. But I'm starting to go into that thing, like, what can I get my kids in? So I get you know kind of excited and for everything. So uh one of the things that I'm looking forward to this week coming up is I'm going to state convention for the uh the Texas Democratic Party. And I've never done that. I've done it before, but it was during COVID and it was on over Zoom. So this week will be kind of a new experience for me in that that it will be in person. So I gotta like to dedicate the last meeting. So I'm kind of curious to see how that goes. I'm looking forward to it. But uh today we woke up, uh Andrea came, she cooked breakfast with the kids' help, and we all kind of had a big breakfast, and then same for lunch and then dinner, we just I just grabbed McDonald's. Uh it was something short and sweet. But the kids are watching TV all day, hanging out, being kids. Uh my daughter knows how to ride a bike. I'll just kind of been really stepping up and helping. And uh I just kind of just just something I'm looking forward to. What can I teach the kids next? I don't know if you kind of go through that, Ricky, but that's kind of the next phase, I guess, as I, you know, as it as the kids get older.

SPEAKER_00 6:31

Yeah, man. You know, the kids are getting older, and I think, you know, I think how old is Henley? Is she 11 or is she 12? She's nine. Nine, okay, yeah. So she's Tommy's age. Um, I think about that age, you know, there's less, you know, you have to worry about them less about survival. You know what I mean? Like, don't get me wrong, like you should always be worried about your child's survival, but like, you know, when they're one, two, three, like you're really worried about like them sticking shit into a fucking outlet, or them like crawling up someplace high and falling and like hitting their head, or them like rolling over in their sleep and not being able to breathe. Like, those are my fears as a dad when he was really small. And then he gets older and he becomes slightly more independent. Where now, you know, I'm like, well, really the only thing I do for him is cook, right? Like, I don't have to wipe his butt, I don't have to hold his hand walking around the house, right? Like, I basically I only ever hold this hand whenever we're crossing a busy street. Um, but you know, he's getting, you know, the kids are getting older and stuff, and so now it's like, well, and I take this, you know, take take my advice with a grain of salt. Like I see a lot of kids in my uh in like the career section, um, you know, they're in trouble, right? Like juvenile court. A lot of these kids are coming into uh court with you know misdemeanors, felonies, whatever. And unfortunately, a lot of them have similar patterns, and the similar patterns are uh a mom with no dad, not saying that you know moms are important, but uh dads, there's clearly, at least in Georgia, uh something going on with like a lack of parent, you know, dads being around. And so no dads, and then they are on some form of medication, uh, usually for like ADHD of some sort. Uh, and then they're in homeschool. A lot of them are in homeschool. And it's not because the parents wanted it to, or the parents wanted them to. I think eventually, at least here, what ends up work, what ends up happening is if you get expelled from school, you you get like sent to a disciplinary alternative school that's like via Zoom, which is the worst thing. You know, we're growing up, we get in trouble, and I got in trouble. I went to a disciplinary, uh, alternative disciplinary like school, uh, and I think I was there for like a month, maybe, and then I went back to regular school, you know. Um, but I can't even imagine what it would have been like if I had to do that exact same thing, but over Zoom, you know, kids are we learned during COVID that that's not how they learn, right? It really set a bunch of kids back. And so, you know, I say all that to say I think a big deal about or I think a big reason why kids get in trouble is they're just not busy enough, right? There's always something going on with the children. Um, idle hands are the devil's workshop, right? And so if you give them stuff to to keep them busy, at the very minimum, you're keeping them out of trouble, right? Um, and I do like video games. Uh obviously, I play video games, I don't like it to be like a crutch for children, like, oh, I don't know what else to do. I'm just gonna play video games. I don't like that aspect, but I think you know, given the option between being out and you know, getting into shenanigans with with you know your friends after a certain age or playing video games, I definitely played the video games, you know, getting in trouble. Again, all these kids, like all these kids that I'm seeing, you know, they're I think I told you about it. There was like four kids walking around, they were breaking into cars, they were shooting their gun out in the air, and then they got arrested, they got caught with the gun, they got caught with the bullet casing, they got caught with like um uh screwdrivers and stuff that they were using to break into the vehicles and stuff like that. And they were young, you know, they were 13, 14 years old. And I'm like, man, dude, like giving the option between my son doing that stuff or just playing a video game, like, yeah, video games are fine. Um, but I do get Tommy in all sorts of things.

SPEAKER_01 10:17

I know you you brought up a you know D A E P display Alternative School, and I vividly remember our I think it was our senior year, uh that we had some one of our friends was in home at class, so we took a walk to his class and we got some eggs, and we went to I want to say it was silver cafeteria and silver campus, and we like we initiated a food fight.

SPEAKER_00 10:44

Allegedly. I mean the statue of limitations has run now.

SPEAKER_01 10:46

We can probably say allegedly initiated a food fight, and this is not allegedly, I was the one who got blamed for it because I took the fall for it, and I think it was the result of me having a brightly colored shirt that day, and so they had me on camera, and then uh I went to DAEP for about a month, and that was that. But I do remember you going to the the principal's office allegedly and saying, you know, hypothetically, if I were to if he wasn't the one who started it, and you know, there was other people involved, and I think it was Mr. Allen who was there. Hypothetically said, you know, hypothetically they'd be in the same position he's in. He was a good thing we're talking hypothetically here.

SPEAKER_00 11:22

It would be it would it would not take anything away from him, it would just give you more. Oh, interesting.

SPEAKER_01 11:27

Well, and I do remember it was a thing of them not wanting to let me walk the stage because of it, but that all got cleared up. I was able, I it's a big pushback on that, and I was able to walk the stage, everything was all good, but but it was a good it was pretty fun because I remember you know, footsteps was there and he was like kind of right in front of me, and I'm like, I just freaking junk all the stuff and then footsteps had a friend, and he was saying, Hey buddy, you should probably get out of here, and then so that guy's like you're absolutely right, I probably should. And he got up and he left, and it was just crazy. Do you remember that?

SPEAKER_00 12:00

I remember that. I uh you know, I I my mind I it's um I remember because you know, if for those of y'all never been in Brian High, there's like a big square of a bunch of tables, and then there's an empty space between where the tables begin and like where the line of food is, but then there's also an empty space between um where the tables end and where the next tables begin. There's like a kind of like a hallway of space, uh, and that's usually where kids go in and out, so that way you're not walking between great tables to leave. Uh, I remember the late great Nathan Cover was there, uh, rest in peace. I remember talking him, you know, him being there. And I just remember having the eggs, and I think it might have been our buddy that was gonna throw it first or or something. And you know, we're all kids, we were all 16, 17 at the time, we're all scared, no one wants to be the first one to do it, you know. We're all looking around, we're probably looking nervous as shit. We end up throwing it, and I remember as we're throwing the eggs, there it was like a silence came across the the fucking um the cafeteria, and nobody said anything, and then the very next instant, all this food just started going across. Yes, and I remember it being so weird, I was like, that's all it took was like there we were just on the verge of a food fight, you know. Yeah, and then yeah, like I don't remember who exactly threw the first one or whatever, but I do remember like he threw all the shit and no one because he was right in front of me.

SPEAKER_01 13:22

That was pretty fun because yeah, that was a good experience, and that kind of reminds me of that.

SPEAKER_00 13:26

So, you know, yeah, and you know, there's a difference between like you know, being dumb with your friends and then actually getting into crimes, right? And I think we're smart enough to be able to speak on both of those things allegedly. Um I think you know, I don't remember getting out with my friends until like late middle school, and that probably was already too late. Like, if because you know, Tom's already out there with his buddy now, right? They're riding bikes around the neighborhood, they're exploring. I would rather that first initial I'm getting into shit happen when he's nine and ten because there's more leniency than if you were to be 14-15. Because by that time, it's like, well, you should know better, even though that that was my first time getting out and just doing dumb shit. But now he, you know, he's nine and ten getting out and doing dumb shit. It's a little bit different. Um, I think I sent you a picture of him, like it was like him and like three of his buddies. Uh, they right across the street from us, a neighbor threw out a television and they all went to the television and like monkeys like were like crouching around it, like looking into it, like what the fuck is this, you know? And then they like took the they like took the the box and they like fucking stole it and they came and they took it to the to the house.

SPEAKER_01 14:35

Uh and it was just funny.

SPEAKER_00 14:37

Um it was funny as shit to see it. I was just like, what the fuck? Like, they're just being dumb, you know. But you know, if you do that exact same thing and you're 15, 14, it looks a little bit different, you know, even though it's you do the exact same thing now of a sudden like, what the hell are these kids doing? You know, they're still in the car, you know.

SPEAKER_01 14:52

Kids nowadays probably grow up a lot faster than we did, but yeah, because this is what they're exposed to in terms of you know social media, you know, cell phones, like you know, growing up, did you have a cell phone? That kind of thing. So, no, we was playing outside, but I'm happy to hear that Tommy's out there playing. You know, I still haven't my kids haven't had their first sleepover yet. They had it, it's probably been with Mariah, it hasn't been with me, and then maybe that's it's because I'm dad, they don't want to ask me, I don't know. But I just kind of wanted to get your thoughts on because it came up in a day-to-day about camp. Would you put Tommy in a camp?

SPEAKER_00 15:29

So like he's in summer camp right now, but but it's very relaxed, right? It's not like uh so but so the short answer is yes, but it would have to be over the summer because during the school year, whether it be fall or spring, he's so busy already that like I don't want to throw in additional thing, right? Um, so like for example, the school will have like a mini camp within the school, like they'll do choir and like he'll go and sing, but then that's every Wednesday within school. And then uh I think in the spring they'll do golf, but that's every Thursday within school. But then he also does baseball. And so we keep him pretty busy, honestly. And at this point now, I think it's I don't want to say it's too late, but like he's used to being very busy. And uh I think it's you know, I think it's already ingrained in him, you know what I mean? If that makes sense, where he's just like, Yeah, I'm busy, like I'm just gonna like he just knows that and he and he appreciates when he's not doing anything, which is interesting too. Because like whenever we're just at the house hanging out, I'm like, hey, buddy wanna do anything, and he like if it's been a long week, he's like, nah, I just want to hang out. I'm like, Thank you, because I would just want to fucking hang out too.

SPEAKER_01 16:36

You know, I remember and I remember I remember being an issue, it was he was a little bit younger because you know Tommy didn't have any siblings and you have any yep, it was kind of you had to kind of take on that role, and it was you know, big not that much burden, but it was it's a lot, you know, for adults to kind of fill that void. So I was lucky and fortunate to have two kids so they can, you know, entertain each other. And now that they're getting older, you know, they now they want to be with their cousins, they want to be hanging out like that all under phone, talking to them all the time, and all kinds of things. So I would like to probably do a little bit more outside activities. My daughter, she always wants to be outside, she wants to be on the park, and my son, he really wants to be in the pool so much that I think I'm gonna get a pool. I want to do above ground pools, and I'm thinking about it, so I think I'll probably have it set up and then they'll have it in the back over that when I get them next week so that they can have fun. And that's you know, next weekend is uh July 4th weekend, and I won't have work. But Sam, your brother, he wants to do the 5k again.

SPEAKER_00 17:33

Make him do it, make him fucking do it. You know, he's he just like with any of us, like it's it's more fun when you do it with somebody else. Uh, I I just send you those pictures. I obviously I I'm not gonna be going down there because I'm gonna be working and stuff, but like I I would love to fucking see how y'all do.

SPEAKER_01 17:51

No, so I'm gonna do it, I'm gonna do it with my son and Sam, but Sam is gonna do it the same way he did it the last one.

SPEAKER_00 17:55

He's just gonna fucking raw dog and show up.

SPEAKER_01 17:57

Yes, 100%. I was like, yes, that's a bad move, but I love it. I love it. Do it.

SPEAKER_00 18:04

Actually, we've changed rules.

SPEAKER_01 18:06

If it's as lax as the freaking the yeah, they they usually are. Absolutely, we're gonna get one. Yeah, if it's not, then I'll I'm gonna try to do my best to get him a get him a shirt. But I'm curious to see what the time is gonna be. Uh, I know your and Tommy's time was certain thing, and I think mine and my son's time we beat you.

SPEAKER_00 18:22

You did.

SPEAKER_01 18:24

And so I'm gonna try to beat that my last time, which I don't even know what the heck it was.

SPEAKER_00 18:29

And it's okay, so I may be able to find one that I think about it because I'm getting motivated, but because Tom's so small though. He's so you know, he's nine. Uh, because Dario, he's not 10, right? He's 11, isn't he?

SPEAKER_01 18:41

No, he's 10. He's about to turn 11.

SPEAKER_00 18:42

When does he turn? Oh, July 4th is his birthday. July 4th. That's right, that's right. Um, so a year and a half. I mean, that's some pretty and he's pretty fucking tall, is the thing, too. So he has a long stride.

SPEAKER_01 18:53

Um, I knew the excuses were gonna come out sooner or later. Hey, you know, a week before the vibe game.

SPEAKER_00 18:59

Well, we know I'm about to, you know, we'll we'll see. You know, it's uh that's that's pretty good though. Because I think the time was somewhere in the ballpark of like the high 30s, maybe, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 19:08

30 minutes, 30 something minutes. That's pretty good, right?

SPEAKER_00 19:11

Because me and Tom, we had one a long time. I think it was like Memorial Day the year before, so not the previous, not a few months before. Because we did we did the one together on Thanksgiving, right? Right, that's what it was. So then it wasn't that Memorial Day, but the one before that. Yeah, so I think it was memorial, so it had been like a year before that. I think Tom was so let's see here. This was his past one. He was eight, he might have been seven when he did it. Uh and it was 41 minutes, if I'm not mistaken. It was about 41 minutes.

SPEAKER_01 19:41

Um we're gonna try to get a good time because I know you're gonna look because I know you are competitive and you're gonna try to beat that. And I literally go at the pace of my son. Sometimes he wants to run, sometimes he wants to walk. But he's getting I think the more comfortable he gets, the more comfortable he is with running, and the more comfortable he'll feel like just kind of going. Because he, you know, if he's if he somehow we get separated, gets a little anxious. And so as long as we're with each other and we're keeping his try, we should be good.

SPEAKER_00 20:04

But it's more you can use that and get ahead of him and make and force him to be nervous and be like, shit, I'm scared, I need to get to my dad, you know, like use the fear, use the fear to surge of adrenaline to sharpen your decision making.

SPEAKER_01 20:16

Tommy's gonna definitely put you in a home. I'm just gonna he's 100% gonna do that. But it's it's his birthday, also, so I think we're gonna be we might go out of town. But if I do this pool thing, I think he'll like that, maybe do kind of a barbecue situation. I don't know.

SPEAKER_00 20:30

Absolutely, dude.

SPEAKER_01 20:31

Guys, if you made it this far, please, if you don't mind, rate us five stars, share us with your friends, because this is the only dads podcast. And if you have any tips, comments, or suggestions, please reach out to us at the only dads podcast at gmo.com. Ricky, you got the last word.

SPEAKER_00 20:45

Uh, the last word would be it's it's starting to be gorgeous weather, so get out with your family. Uh, I understand you know everybody works and stuff like that. So, you know, you can't get out all the time, but I would suggest because of the weather, when it's starting to rain or whatever, when it is beautiful, go out for a walk, even if it's 20, 30 minutes, man. Get out some fresh air and it'll change your entire day. Preferably in the morning. Uh, but I understand most people's mornings, if you're like me, are pretty busy. Uh, and then in the evening, it's a nice way to wind down. You go out, you see the sun go down a little bit, the air starts changing, and then by the time you come back inside, now you're ready to shut down for the day. Make some dinner and enjoy the outside time. But it's important we're humans, you know, we're not meant to be inside all day. So go outside, enjoy the time, and spend time with your family this summer before the hecticness of the fall comes in.

SPEAKER_01 21:31

Oh, it does podcast.