
End of Summer Dad Life: Vacation Fails & Family Memories
End-of-summer dad life gets real: food poisoning in Mexico, a lost wedding ring, family vacation chaos and the moments with our kids we never want to forget. The whole Dad Livin' crew is back together to close out summer and compare the wins, fails and family memories that defined it. We rate our summers without being allowed to pick a seven, revisit a brutal Mexico birthday trip, explain how a wedding ring disappeared at Lake of the Ozarks and ask whether traveling with kids should really count as a vacation. The conversation also gets real about parenting through grief, watching our kids grow more independent and recognizing the small moments that become the memories we keep. Doug shares the Missouri Botanical Garden picnic that felt like a perfect family night, plus the bedtime kiss from Adalyn that went "straight into his heart." Then it is time to settle the important end-of-summer debates: - Pool, lake or beach? - Road trip or flying? - Is a family vacation actually a vacation? - Does summer end when school starts or on Labor Day? - Your turn: When does summer officially end: the first day of school or - - Labor Day? Pick one and defend it in the comments. This episode contains candid language and a sincere conversation about grief. Chapters: 0:00 The Whole Dad Livin' Crew Is Back 1:10 Summer Is Over and School Is Back 2:38 Rate Your Summer, but You Cannot Pick Seven 3:55 The Summer Vacation Tally 5:31 Grief, Family Support and a Difficult Summer 7:48 The Summer Fail Hall of Shame 8:10 Food Poisoning at a 40th Birthday in Mexico 11:07 Losing a Wedding Ring at Lake of the Ozarks 12:43 Night Shifts, Travel and Summer Exhaustion 15:24 The Family Memories We Did Not Plan 17:10 Watching Our Kids Grow Up 19:29 Gulf Shores and Learning to Be Present 23:01 The Perfect Night at Missouri Botanical Garden 26:00 The Funniest and Sweetest Things Our Kids Said 27:15 Adalyn's Goodnight Kiss Goes Straight to Dad's Heart 30:36 Is The Sandlot a Fourth of July Movie? 32:21 Settle It: The End-of-Summer Debates 32:47 Pool, Lake or Beach? 33:35 Road Trip or Flying? 34:03 Is a Family Vacation Actually a Vacation? 38:46 When Does Summer Officially End? 41:10 Final Summer Verdicts Visit Dad Livin': https://www.dadlivin.com Subscribe for honest fatherhood stories, parenting humor, family debates and garage conversations with the guys. #DadLivin #DadLife #Fatherhood #ParentingPodcast #FamilyVacation
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