Ah yes—the much-anticipated Father’s Day post. First off, thank you to everyone who wished me a Happy Father’s Day on Sunday. A belated Happy Father’s Day back to all the other dads and man-parents out there.
I had a wonderful weekend with my girls and our little buddy Burger. From my dad I learned that holidays like this are best celebrated by doing things together rather than giving things—like the trail run I took him on Sunday morning. That’s what fatherhood feels like: being present, sharing experiences, and making memories. This year Clara could participate a bit more in the weekend’s activities, which made everything even more enjoyable. Not that last year wasn’t fun—my first Father’s Day in the old sunroom is still a favorite memory.
We packed as many activities as possible into the two-day stretch while juggling a few house projects. The three of us (sometimes four) went out to breakfast, read lots of books, played outside, took walks, made homemade pizza, and visited the Farmer’s Market. It felt like a perfect mix of low-key fun and simple family time.
My favorite part of the weekend was breaking in the big gift Sherry and Clara gave me on Saturday morning: a yogging stroller (yes, it’s more fun to say than jogging stroller). We christened it on a three-mile jaunt around the neighborhood, with Clara happily riding along. The photo below was taken on a family walk Sunday night after that first run—because somehow we forgot to take a picture right after the inaugural outing.
I really love this stroller. Clara enjoys it too, which is the real icing on the Father’s Day cake. The icing might actually be the deal we scored on it. Sherry and I had been casually watching Craigslist for a used jogging yogging stroller, but none of the listings were worth the drive or the hassle. Then I spotted a slightly upgraded model on Diapers.com marked down by $65 (from $189.99 to $124.99) with free shipping—only problem: it was out of stock.
Sherry suggested I call their customer number just to ask if anything could be done. They wouldn’t let me pre-order, but they did something better: they honored the discounted price on the out-of-stock “Yellow/Grey” model for the available “Grey/Yellow” version (which I actually preferred). Instead of paying the full $189.99, we paid $124.99—thirty-five percent off—just for calling and asking. That small bit of effort made the splurge feel smart.
We did go a little over our original $100 budget, but we’re glad we upgraded to the version with a built-in speaker for Clara. It sounds high-tech, but playing her favorite kids’ songs on morning runs and evening walks keeps her happier and more engaged. That, plus the fun of “fishing” for goldfish crackers from her cupholders, makes our outings smoother. Considering some jogging strollers can cost $300–$400, getting this for around $125 felt like a very reasonable splurge.
Another major Father’s Day milestone: Clara took her first independent steps—two of them—moving from the sectional to the ottoman. It was amazing. I missed the very first attempt because I was in the kitchen, but I sprinted in when Sherry started cheering and Clara kindly gave me a repeat performance. Of course we didn’t have the camera in-hand for the first moments, but the memory is more important than the photo.
Sherry surprised me with another thoughtful gift: a custom 8.5 x 11″ rendering of our first house commissioned from an artist named Jennifer Ahnquist. The sketch is a sentimental piece that reminds us of where we started, and the preview we saw was lovely. The artist works with pen and ink and finishes each rendering with Prismacolor markers. We plan to frame it in white with a wide mat and add it to our hallway gallery once the original arrives.
More than the gifts, Father’s Day served as a reminder of how fortunate I am: for the little girl I get to be a father to, for the woman who made her possible, and for my own dad who still inspires me. Whether it’s celebrating first steps, enjoying a new stroller on morning runs, or simply sharing a pizza and a walk, the holiday reaffirmed how much I value time spent together. And now, thanks to my new yogging stroller, I have the perfect excuse for a slightly more relaxed pace on runs.