HOW AN ANCIENT PHILOSOPHY IS HELPING MODERN DADS
Stoic philosophy has guided some of the greatest leaders in history. This ancient practice, founded in Greece by philosophers like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, has gained popularity in recent years due to its practical applications to modern life. But how can stoic philosophy help you be a better parent? Here are some key principles of stoicism that you can apply to your parenting style.
Focus on what you can control
Stoicism emphasizes the importance of focusing on what you can control, and letting go of what you can't. As a parent, this means accepting that you can't control everything that happens to your child, but you can control your own reactions to those events. For example, if your child gets sick, you can't control the illness, but you can control how you respond by staying calm and providing comfort and care.
Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth
Stoicism teaches that challenges and adversity are opportunities for growth and self-improvement. As a parent, you will undoubtedly face challenges, from sleepless nights to tantrums to teenage rebellion. Rather than seeing these challenges as obstacles, try to reframe them as opportunities to strengthen your patience, resilience, and problem-solving skills.
Practice self-control and emotional regulation
Stoicism emphasizes the importance of self-control and emotional regulation. As a parent, this means staying calm and level-headed even in stressful situations. It also means being aware of your own emotional triggers and practicing self-care to ensure that you are in a good emotional state to handle the challenges of parenting.
Cultivate gratitude and perspective
Stoicism teaches the importance of cultivating gratitude and perspective, and this is especially relevant to parenting. It's easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day frustrations of parenting, but taking a step back and reflecting on the bigger picture can help you appreciate the joys and blessings of parenthood. Practicing gratitude can also help you maintain a positive attitude and stay resilient in the face of challenges.
Lead by example
Finally, stoicism emphasizes the importance of leading by example. As a parent, you are a role model for your child, and your actions and attitudes can have a powerful impact on their development. By practicing stoic principles in your own life, you can model resilience, self-control, and a positive attitude for your child to emulate.
Stoic philosophy can offer valuable insights and practical tools for millennial fathers who want to be better parents. By focusing on what you can control, embracing challenges as opportunities for growth, practicing self-control and emotional regulation, cultivating gratitude and perspective, and leading by example, you can become a more resilient, patient, and effective parent.
THE PERFECT DADDY DIAPER BAG? // THE 5.11 TACTICAL RUSH 12 BACKPACK
IF YOU’VE BEEN ON THE HUNT FOR A DIAPER BAG THAT LOOKS GREAT, WILL LAST A LIFETIME, AND DOESN’T BREAK THE BANK, I HAVE GOOD NEWS! WHILE THERE ARE NO SHORTAGE OF DIAPER BAGS ON THE MARKET, IT CAN BE HARD TO FIND A BAG THAT BALANCES FUNCTION, DURABILITY, AND USABILITY BETTER THAN THE 5.11 TACTICAL RUSH SERIES.
If you’ve been on the hunt for a diaper bag that looks great, will last a lifetime, and doesn’t break the bank, I have good news! While there are no shortage of diaper bags on the market, it can be hard to find a bag that balances function, durability, and usability better than the 5.11 Tactical RUSH series.
Like most dads I’ve had a hard time finding a diaper bag. I wanted something that was durable, functional, and could be easily organized for anything that our son could throw our way. After months of research, review videos and countless hours hemming and hawing at our local Buy Buy Baby, I think I’ve finally found the perfect diaper bag! The amazing thing is that it’s not a diaper bag at all. Now if you know the name 5.11 Tactical, you’ll know that they’re deep in the world of Everyday Carry, hiking, hunting, law enforcement, and more. They typically make gear focused on those who carry firearms for a living, as well as the “tacticool” community. I have a few items from their lineup including a jacket, but have never fully embraced their style because of their focus on military-style design aesthetic. However, when looking for a diaper bag I had a few criteria that I just couldn’t seem to find in any other line of bags.
DURABILITY. I didn’t want a diaper bag that was ONLY a diaper bag. I wanted to be able to load it out in multiple configurations and use it far beyond our diaper years. The materials and craftsmanship also needed to be on point.
FUNCTIONALITY. I wanted a bag that would not only serve as a diaper bag, but one that would be able to carry all of our mom/dad essentials as well. The needed to open wide enough that I could easily stuff things in, get things out, and keep everything organized so that I could find it quickly and easily.
AESTHETIC. I wasn’t super worried about seeming like a “tough guy” dad with a tactical backpack. I wanted aesthetics that were simple and functional and not too over the top. I don’t need a ton of attachments, and if there are any they needed to be for go, not just for show.
VALUE. Diaper bags are EXPENSIVE. In most cases, high quality diaper bags can range anywhere from $100-$150, and many only work as a diaper bag.
With our criteria covered, let’s dive into the bag that I chose.
durability
The 5.11 Tactical Rush Series of bags is built with long-term durability in mind. The outer shell is made of water-resistant 1050D nylon, and is designed to hold up to abusive outdoor use. This is the same material that’s used in military bags, heavy duty duffel bags, and more. It has a long history of standing up to abuse and daily use and should stand up to years of use as a diaper bag and beyond. Beyond just the bag material, the Rush 12 has heavy duty, self-repairing YKK zippers and zipper pulls. This means that the zippers, which are one of the most common failure points of any bag, are designed to be opened and closed thousands of times without coming apart or malfunctioning.
functionality
One of the biggest things I was looking for in a diaper bag was organization. Many of the dad bags out there have a few cool features, but largely are focused on baby’s stuff, but don’t have any real organization for those items, or for mom and dads items. This is a place where the Rush 12 shines. In total, there are 16 individual compartments throughout the bag, with a multi-slot administrative pocket for holding pens, pencils, flashlights, notebooks, or whatever else you might need quick access to.
The front admin panel also has some larger slots integrated into the front flap, as well as a zipper pocket towards the interior for things that might come loose as the bag is moving around. Moving up on the bag we have an unlined accessories pocket where you can store anything that needs to be within quick reach. Moving to the top of the bag there’s a soft-lined glasses pocket, perfect for sunglasses or phones.
Inside the Rush 12 you’ll find a huge internal compartment totaling about 24L of storage. On the front flap there are two mesh pockets, perfect for storing wipes, diapers, and other accessories. On the back panel of the bag there’s a large pocket with a tie down which is great for organizing a change of clothes, or even storing a laptop or tablet. The thing that really impressed me about this bag though was its ability to open completely and lay flat out. This means that you can access anything and everything stored in the internal storage compartments quickly and easily. When changing a baby you’re often trying to do things with one hand, so having the ability to see everything all at once is a huge plus.
A few other notable features:
This bag has space for a hydration pack with
The ergonomic straps also have a quick release buckle at the bottom making the bag very easy to get on and off at a moments notice
The Rush 12 has a sternum help distribute the weight more evenly across your body when fully loaded
The padded back makes the bag extremely comfortable to wear for long periods
aesthetic
Now, here’s where I think the Rush 12 falters a little, but I can’t really fault the designers. Overall the aesthetic of the bag is pretty understated, with no huge logos or crazy colors. I chose to go with the Black colorway instead of any of the more tactical looking Coyote Brown, OD Green, or Double Tap (it’s just grey). However, I do think that this bag is much more “tactical” than most diaper bags that I had been looking at. Again, this isn’t the fault of 5.11 Tactical (duh, they have tactical in their name), it’s just personal preference. The great thing about this tactical look though is that it does serve a purpose. The straps that you see all over the bag are called MOLLE webbing. Now MOLLE is a system that was developed for military use, and allows you to attach, detach, and reconfigure this bag to any number of use cases. You can attach and endless number of pouches, tools, and accessories to a bag like this to customize it to fit your exact needs.
value
This is where I believe the Rush 12 really shines. Coming in at around $99 dollars you’re right in the ballpark of typical diaper bags, but you’re getting tremendous value in terms of comfort, durability, and functionality, which you don’t find with most diaper bags. This bag also has value far beyond its use as a diaper bag. It can be used for hiking, outdoor adventures, and even as an everyday bag for commuting to and from the office once you’re no longer carrying around lots of gear for your little one.
What’s your favorite daddy diaper bag? Have you found an alternative to other, more traditional diaper bag companies? Let me know in the comments below!