Why dadcrafted?

When I was a teenager, my older brother and his friends used to use “dad” as a vulgarity. “Daaaaad” they’d drone in a mocking voice as they poked fun at a friend for doing something dorky. And they’d absolutely get called “dad” if they did something responsible. I was guilty of this, too. My friends and I looked up to the older kids so we did the same thing. It was funny. And it was funny because it was kinda true. Dads are dorky. They are responsible. They follow the rules. Daaaaaads.

Well, I’m old now, and I love being a dad.   I have a beautiful wife and rambunctious twin boys.  I guess I’m lucky, but I love my kids and I love my wife. I love my dorky, responsible life and those that I’m blessed with in it. I've come to realize how cool it is to relive the things you did as a kid all over again through your kids’ eyes. And with that, you get to add some of the things that your parents maybe just ran out of time for.  Not to say my parents didn’t make things. I remember cutting out pinewood derby cars with my dad on the bandsaw. I remember grandpa constructing huge shelves in my bedroom to hold all of my toys and games. But they never went over the top. I’m gonna take it over the top.

As a husband, I’m often asked (told) to do certain household projects. Some of these things are probably over my pay grade. But with the help of YouTube, almost anything is possible these days. And if not, hey, I give it a shot and fall flat on my face and then call in the pros.  But all of this is doable. When I got married I didn’t own a drill or a saw. But a buddy and I built a set of cornhole boxes in his basement with his tools and I thought to myself, “this isn’t hard! I could do this!” So, I did. My wife bought me a miter saw and a table saw at a big box store for a Black Friday deal and I’ve been making ever since, adding tools here and there as I go. Some projects are over my head or I don’t have the right tools. So, I save up and buy the tool and then get after it.

And I fail. A lot. Luckily, most times I fail small and salvage a project so that it’s usable. Most everything I make is for my own house or family, so if it’s a bit off, it’s no big deal. But I’ve tended to notice that nobody notices the imperfections but me. But failing is a part of learning and growing. Woodworking and making stuff is a lot about learning what not to do next time. The first set of cornhole boards I made were awful. The most recent set I built are sturdy and gorgeous.

And making things gives me my creative outlet. It’s fun to make stuff you can’t just go buy. And if you really want to get someone a great birthday or Christmas gift, make them something. Even if it’s something small, a handmade gift is something that’ll light up their face and bring them far more joy than any gift card or piece of plastic. I promise.

So, join me. If you’re a dad, or a mom, or a brother or sister with nieces and nephews around, join in. Or if you're a teenager looking to make something for a brother or sister, or even for your mom or your old man, you’re welcome, too. I was going to be making this stuff anyway. I might as well share it with you and show you how to do it, too.