Hey guys, Derek here! Welcome to a day in my life as a single dad, where I juggle fatherhood, work, content creation, and just trying to keep up with everything without losing my mind.
Being a single dad isn’t just a job—it’s an extreme sport.
Between getting Tanner to school, handling my own business, making YouTube videos, and pretending I have time to eat actual food, my days are a mix of organized chaos, last-minute rushing, and tiny victories that keep me going.
Today, I’m giving you a real, raw look at what life is like as a solo parent.
👇 Watch the full vlog here before reading on! 👇
Mornings as a Single Dad—Pure Chaos
The day starts bright and early—except, not really, because Tanner decides he’s sleeping in.
The morning routine looks a little something like this:
☕ Coffee? Not yet.
🐶 Dogs? Hungry as always.
🛌 Tanner? Asleep like it’s Saturday.
We’re already running late, but today is special—it’s Tanner’s 100th day of school! To celebrate, the kids have to dress like they’re 100 years old, so I spray his hair silver, pop some tiny glasses on him, and watch as he shuffles around the house like a tiny old man.
Absolutely hilarious—I wish I had a before and after pic for this transformation.
Me: “Tanner, you ready to go to school?”
Tanner: Shuffles away like he needs a cane
Me: “Alright, let’s go, Grandpa.”
This is one of those parenting moments I’ll never forget.
The School Drop-Off & Solo Parent Hustle Begins
Once I get Tanner in the car, we’re off.
He’s excited about 100 Days of School, I’m just excited to make it out the door without losing my sanity.
After drop-off, it’s time for some “me” time—which basically just means…
🚗 A quick car wash (because I like to at least pretend I keep my car clean).
⚡ Plugging in the Tesla to charge.
☕ Finally making coffee (priorities!).
And then? The real hustle begins.
Balancing Work, Business & Content Creation
Now that Tanner is at school, it’s go-time.
The reality of being a single dad with multiple jobs means I’m balancing:
👔 The day job (City commute Mondays & Fridays, remote work the rest of the week).
🎬 Content creation (YouTube videos, editing, marketing).
💼 Running Click Consultants (Helping brands with content & growing my own business).
How do I stay organized? Simple—I live in Notion.
📋 Morning routine checklist:
✅ Weigh myself
✅ Take my meds
✅ Read the Bible & meditate
✅ Plan my day & set priorities
✅ Track daily habits
Oh, and I even have a “Daily Quest” in Notion—because if an anime protagonist can have one, so can I.
Today’s big work tasks include:
✅ Resetting up Colorful Cardboard (after Shopify randomly shut it down).
✅ Editing & scheduling YouTube videos.
✅ Client work for Click Consultants.
It’s a nonstop grind, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Lunch Break & The Reality of Solo Parenting Meals
Let’s be honest—when you’re this busy, meal planning is a fantasy.
Could I cook? Yes.
Will I cook? Absolutely not.
🍽 Today’s lunch? A can of spaghetti with meatballs—because it’s faster than fast food, and let’s be real, better than another drive-thru run.
While I eat, I squeeze in a quick episode of One Piece—because nothing says recharging like watching Luffy cause chaos.
Afternoon Hustle—Filming, Meetings & Never Enough Time
After lunch, I jump back into work mode.
🎥 Today’s YouTube Content Goals:
✅ Film 3 new videos (which is a win!).
✅ Batch edit & prep for posting.
✅ Client calls & meetings.
The key to not drowning in work? Batching content.
Filming multiple videos in one session saves hours of setup time and lets me stay ahead of the never-ending content schedule.
By the time 3 PM rolls around, it’s time for the next part of my day…
The School Pick-Up Rush—Why Am I Always Running Late?
🚗 Cue the mad dash to school pickup.
I like to be there right at 3:15 PM, but today? Running late, of course.
Being a single dad means you’re always juggling:
⏳ Deadlines.
⏳ Schedules.
⏳ Trying not to lose your mind.
Even though I get there just a few minutes late, I still stress about it. I used to be NEVER late to anything, but now? Parenting changes you.
Evening Routine—Minecraft, Wrestling Dogs & Storytime
Tanner’s not in the best mood after school—he won’t tell me why, so I give him space.
👾 He unwinds with Minecraft.
🐶 The dogs wrestle like it’s WrestleMania.
📋 I squeeze in a little more work before shutting down for the night.
Then comes bedtime—and storytime.
Tonight’s book? Happy Hippo, Angry Duck.
There’s something about ending the day reading together that makes all the stress worth it.
Final Thoughts—The Single Dad Life
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about being a single dad, it’s this:
👉 You never feel like there’s enough time.
👉 You’re always balancing 10 things at once.
👉 But at the end of the day, it’s all worth it.
Would life be easier if I wasn’t doing a million things at once? Probably. But I love what I do, I love being a dad, and I love building something meaningful.
Even if it means eating canned spaghetti along the way. 😂
Your Turn—Let’s Chat!
💬 Are you a single parent? What’s your biggest challenge balancing work & parenting?
Drop your thoughts in the comments below!
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Thanks for reading—see you in the next one! 🚀
✌️ Derek