Mother's WEEK

This week is like Superbowl to be a good spouse and dad right?

Author

Michael Hatfield
May 04, 2024

After a “real work” trip I’m re-entering the atmosphere at home. Timing couldn’t be better to plan, run, and share another “play” as we approach Mother’s Day. Why wait for May 12th to do and look like e’ry other dad out there? My wife likes a birthday week, so I’m going to try the same idea for Mother’s Day this week. In less than 30 minutes you can setup and run the same play for yourself.

Open your calendar and let’s go!

Person

  1. Block a single 2-hour block for yourself in the next 7 days. Get a big workout in (includes stretching!) or schedule a meal or drink with a buddy or 2. There’s still time to get ahead of it for the week! Big fan of putting your mask on first so you can go crush all the things.

  2. RIGHT NOW. Communicate to your wife no. 1 above. Plus, communicate any work things that affect your ability to show up when she otherwise expects you. Send these things to whatever calendar she uses. No-good surprises are not Appairent 🙅 .

Partner

Extra attention here this week (obviously). Show her you value her more than 1 day a year, and that Mother’s Day isn’t an obligation. By the time May 12th comes she’ll just be saying “dayum”.

  1. Pick an evening you can take on the kids solo. Text 1 or 2 of her neighborhood girlfriends (or their husbands) to see if they can free up for hh or quick dinner at a neighborhood spot. Put it on the calendar.

  2. Wednesday: pull out a notecard/blank card/whatever you can write on. Acknowledge all she does today and every day. Why wait?

    Copy/paste and customize as you see fit:

I want you to know how much I appreciate everything you do for our family. Your dedication and support keep us going, and I'm so grateful for your patience and guidance as we raise child(ren) together. Wanted you to know that before Mother’s Day, and every day.

Appairent

Do these now or lock in reminders on your calendar…execution or planning is what’s usually missing!

Parent

  1. You’ve already got some intentional parenting time thanks to the giving your wife some time.

  2. Do this easy craft with the kiddos before or after dinner. Minimal materials and time…and you’re already going to have clean-up duties so what’s another mess.

Materials List

Here’s a list of what you might need to order on Amazon and/or at the grocery store to knock out these tasks and level up your week:

  1. Construction paper

  2. Finger paint

  3. Small paintbrush

  4. Appreciation Cards (so helpful to have on hand)

  5. Case of Olde English 800 (never know)

See 👇️ for a baller move and related grocery list.

Still seems overwhelming? Appairent can help with the actual execution to make your Modern Dad life easier!

Baller OT Move

My wife and I fell in love with Porto for our 1st anniversary in 2019. That put natas on the map for us. Natas are a staple in Portugal, but I think easily the most underrated, overlooked pastry treat in the USA.

Follow this recipe for natas and score some points with the whole house (take some to your Mom, too). There’s a time commitment, but it’s actually straightforward. I’ve successfully done it before.

Copy/Paste Ingredients

For the dough

  • 2 cups minus 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour (plus more for the work surface)

  • 1/4 teaspoon of sea salt

  • 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons of ice water

  • 2 sticks (8 oz) of unsalted butter (room temp & stirred until smooth)

For the Filling

  • 75g of granulated 

  • 34g of water

  • Cinnamon stick (optional)

  • Lemon peel (optional)

  • 18g of all-purpose flour

  • 1/4 teaspoon of salt

  • 126g of full-fat milk

  • 80g of heavy cream

  • 3 large egg yolks, beaten

  • 3/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract