There are moments as a parent when you feel like you’ve got it all together. This was not one of them.
Tanner and I pulled up to his school like it was any other morning — backpack packed, lunch ready, energy high. Only problem?
There was no school.
Turns out school was closed for voting day. Which, in hindsight, I vaguely remember reading in an email… maybe… somewhere? Who knows.
Anyway — surprise day off for Tanner. We turned the car around, and just like that, he scored himself a bonus vacation day. Honestly, the look on his face when I told him? Worth it. 10/10 surprise reaction.
Pizza, Pop, and a November Heat Wave
Since we were out already, we hit up Pizza Hut for the buffet. Because what else do you do when you’re gifted a random Tuesday off school?
Tanner made weird faces at me the whole time. I made him sip his pop like a civilized human. He ignored me. We laughed. It was exactly the kind of nothing day that turns into a core memory.
And somehow — it was 80 degrees out. In November. In Ohio.
So we hit the driveway for a little chalk art and sunshine. Watching your kid draw under a blue sky in the middle of fall? It just does something to your soul.
Let’s Talk About the Election (Briefly)
Yesterday was election day here in the U.S., and this morning I woke up to the news that Donald J. Trump is back.
Won the election. Again.
And listen — I’m not here to debate politics. I’ve got friends on both sides. I’m a pretty centrist guy myself. But I am here to say this:
Every time there’s an election, people start screaming that it’s the end of the country. Like… clockwork.
I saw posts from people saying it’s over for the LGBTQ+ community, over for women, over for everything. And I get the fear — I really do. But I also remember when Trump was president before. And a lot of the stuff people swore would happen… didn’t.
Am I saying this time will be the same? No idea. Could be better. Could be worse. Probably a mix of both.
Either way, we’re here. Life goes on. We adapt, we stay kind, we show up for each other.
My 365 Project (a.k.a. What Happens If I Actually Try for a Year)
At the start of this month, I quietly kicked off something big — a year-long project where I’m giving life everything I’ve got.
No negative self-talk. No more dragging my feet. Just going all in — on parenting, on content, on business, on my health, all of it.
I’m calling it my “365 Days of Actually Trying.”
Not in a toxic hustle way — more like, what happens if I give 120% to everything I know I should be doing for one full year?
Of course, two seconds into that plan, I got sick. Lost my voice, throat went to trash, coughing up what can only be described as Nickelodeon slime.
But even sick, I’ve been pushing.
Editing, planning, trying to stay productive. The videos are slowly getting better. The team’s getting stronger. And once my voice clears up, I’m ready to really get back to recording again.
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being consistent — and giving it a real shot.
Birthday Cake, Lego Houses, and the Good Stuff
Fast forward to today — family birthday party vibes.
There was cake. Chaos. Kids yelling. A piñata stuffed with candy and dreams. I took way too many pictures. Tanner ran around with his cousins like it was his full-time job.
At one point, he pulled me aside to show off a Lego house he built. It had a bed, a hamburger, a drink, and what he claimed was a chill little dude just vibing inside.
It wasn’t much.
But standing there, hearing him explain every brick and detail?
It was everything.
Wrapping It Up
This vlog didn’t have a theme.
It wasn’t some viral trend or epic transformation. Just a cancelled school day, some pizza, some politics, a personal goal, and a Lego house.
But honestly?
That’s kind of the point.
These are the days that sneak by if you’re not paying attention. And I don’t want to miss them anymore. Not the wins, not the weirdness, not the “wait, what do you mean there’s no school?” mornings.
Here’s to noticing the little stuff.
Here’s to showing up even when your throat’s wrecked.
Here’s to trying — fully, finally, and for real.
Until next time,
✌️ Derek