Escaping Is The Key To Upping Your Dad Game

Life as a dad, husband, and professional can sometimes feel like a never-ending Mario Kart race.

Each morning I can almost hear the ping ping ping piiiiiiiiiiing (Mario Kart) and then, boom, it's off to the races!

In my house, it's a daily Mario Kart rally.

My three zooming around like Mario and his pals, leaving a trail of banana peels (a.k.a. toys) and koopa shells (those dreaded Legos) in their wake.

It's a mix of chaos and fun, and it can be flat-out exhausting when it goes on for weeks and weeks.

Now, here's an eye-opening statistic: 43% of families live 200 miles or more away from their grandparents, and a majority live at least 50 miles away.

Why is this important?

Well, in the good ol' days, grandparents played a big role in providing secondary care for families.

I remember spending several days a week with my grandparents during the summer.

They were like the pit stop in our Mario Kart race, giving us a much-needed breather.

But times have changed.

Modern parents don't get enough of a break.

It's like slipping on a banana peel and getting hit with a koopa shell as we spin off the track.

Ouch!

And you know what suffers the most from this kart crash?

Our relationship with our spouse.

It takes a hit, and we feel it.

That's why my wife and I have made it a priority to invest in our relationship.

We've discovered a secret weapon—getting away from it all.

Yes, my fellow dads, it's time to plan those much-needed escapes, at least once, or even better, twice a year.

I know, it's easier said than done, especially during that first year with a new baby when they're attached to your wife's boobies.

But trust me; you'll get through that phase.

We're excited because we're about to go on our first long weekend away from all three kids since our youngest entered this world last February.

It's been too long.

We're strapping our little ones in the van and channeling our inner Walter Sobchak (think The Big Lebowski) by slowing down to 15 M P H and rolling them onto their grandparents' front lawn.

They need it, and we need it too.

Our goal is simple: we want to return from this adventure feeling more connected and refreshed, ready to tackle the next several levels of our Mario Kart race.

So fellow dads, I'm curious: what ways have you found to connect and invest in your relationship with your spouse?