<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Dads Against Devices™]]></title><description><![CDATA[Presence. Character. Real Connection. 
]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!idl-!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F46c5c640-5019-4d13-acb0-ce4c6dd3d8db_1280x1280.png</url><title>Dads Against Devices™</title><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Sat, 29 Aug 2026 05:45:37 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Matthew Royston]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[dadsagainstdevices@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[dadsagainstdevices@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Matthew Royston]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Matthew Royston]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[dadsagainstdevices@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[dadsagainstdevices@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Matthew Royston]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[They don’t look up. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #56]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/they-dont-look-up</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/they-dont-look-up</guid><pubDate>Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:00:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I try not to judge other people. But sometimes when I am at a restaurant and see couples barely look up from their screens I&#8217;m tempted to comment and offer correction. No wonder many marriages drift apart and fall apart.  </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Each day I share a short thought I call &#8220;Daily DADS&#8482;&#8221;. I would love to share these daily thoughts with you and have you join me on this journey of fatherhood. Hit subscribe to join me.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><h4><strong>The First DAD.</strong></h4><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I am a man, husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for me and for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others when and where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, when I started creating DADS&#8482;, it was always going to be about more than just devices. It&#8217;s mostly about inspiring and encouraging all of us to be more present, develop character and create real connection. It&#8217;s also about encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes; so that the world and all our lives might be a little more joyful, peaceful, and hopeful.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I believe that the most important and unifying identity we each share is &#8216;Child of God&#8217;.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I ask questions and start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Teach human ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #55]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/teach-human</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/teach-human</guid><pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2026 19:42:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Artificial intelligence will dominate the future. This feels like an inescapable reality. All the more reason for us to learn and teach our children the deeply human skill of seeing, knowing, and loving other humans. These are things AI will never be able to do. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Each day I share a short thought I call &#8220;Daily DADS&#8482;&#8221;. I would love to share these daily thoughts with you and have you join me on this journey of fatherhood. Hit subscribe to join me.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><h4><strong>The First DAD.</strong></h4><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I am a man, husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for me and for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others when and where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, when I started creating DADS&#8482;, it was always going to be about more than just devices. It&#8217;s mostly about inspiring and encouraging all of us to be more present, develop character and create real connection. It&#8217;s also about encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes; so that the world and all our lives might be a little more joyful, peaceful, and hopeful.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I believe that the most important and unifying identity we each share is &#8216;Child of God&#8217;.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I ask questions and start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Character]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #54]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/character</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/character</guid><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2026 15:22:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One problem I see is that we seem to care more about what a person knows, and less about who a person is. Our schools and parents struggle and even fail to teach the rising generation morality and character. Much better to have a child with a 2.0gpa who is striving for moral goodness and character, than a 4.0 valedictorian who lacks empathy, impulse control, and generosity to name just three virtues. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Each day I share a short thought I call &#8220;Daily DADS&#8482;&#8221;. I would love to share these daily thoughts with you and have you join me on this journey of fatherhood. Hit subscribe to join me.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><h4><strong>The First DAD.</strong></h4><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I am a man, husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for me and for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others when and where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, when I started creating DADS&#8482;, it was always going to be about more than just devices. It&#8217;s mostly about inspiring and encouraging all of us to be more present, develop character and create real connection. It&#8217;s also about encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes; so that the world and all our lives might be a little more joyful, peaceful, and hopeful.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I believe that the most important and unifying identity we each share is &#8216;Child of God&#8217;.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I ask questions and start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The question changes the answer]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #53]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/the-question-changes-the-answer</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/the-question-changes-the-answer</guid><pubDate>Tue, 25 Aug 2026 14:03:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Something I am learning to do is ask better questions. When I get home from work, instead of asking &#8220;how was your day&#8221; I try to ask &#8220;tell me about your day&#8221;. The first usually gets a one word answer like &#8220;good&#8221; the latter prompts them to start telling a story which reveals how they have seen and experienced the day. This helps me to better see and know my wife and children. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Each day I share a short thought I call &#8220;Daily DADS&#8482;&#8221;. I would love to share these daily thoughts with you and have you join me on this journey of fatherhood. Hit subscribe to join me.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><h4><strong>The First DAD.</strong></h4><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I am a man, husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for me and for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others when and where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, when I started creating DADS&#8482;, it was always going to be about more than just devices. It&#8217;s mostly about inspiring and encouraging all of us to be more present, develop character and create real connection. It&#8217;s also about encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes; so that the world and all our lives might be a little more joyful, peaceful, and hopeful.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I believe that the most important and unifying identity we each share is &#8216;Child of God&#8217;.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I ask questions and start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Time ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #52]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/time</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/time</guid><pubDate>Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:01:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We all think we have time. So we push things off until later. Some things should be pushed off or even postponed. But time invested in our closest relationships ought to be prioritized and protected from the lesser important things that seek to steal our time. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Each day I share a short thought I call &#8220;Daily DADS&#8482;&#8221;. I would love to share these daily thoughts with you and have you join me on this journey of fatherhood. Hit subscribe to join me.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><h4><strong>The First DAD.</strong></h4><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I am a man, husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for me and for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others when and where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, when I started creating DADS&#8482;, it was always going to be about more than just devices. It&#8217;s mostly about inspiring and encouraging all of us to be more present, develop character and create real connection. It&#8217;s also about encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes; so that the world and all our lives might be a little more joyful, peaceful, and hopeful.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I believe that the most important and unifying identity we each share is &#8216;Child of God&#8217;.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I ask questions and start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reverence ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #51]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/reverence</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/reverence</guid><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2026 11:02:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It seems to me sometimes that society broadly speaking has lost reverence for many things &#8212; people, God, nation. I don&#8217;t know all the causes but disconnection appears to be a driving force. I find that when I connect with others, with God, and our nation, reverence for them seems to be the natural outflowing. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Each day I share a short thought I call &#8220;Daily DADS&#8482;&#8221;. I would love to share these daily thoughts with you and have you join me on this journey of fatherhood. Hit subscribe to join me.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><h4><strong>The First DAD.</strong></h4><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I am a man, husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for me and for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others when and where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, when I started creating DADS&#8482;, it was always going to be about more than just devices. It&#8217;s mostly about inspiring and encouraging all of us to be more present, develop character and create real connection. It&#8217;s also about encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes; so that the world and all our lives might be a little more joyful, peaceful, and hopeful.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I believe that the most important and unifying identity we each share is &#8216;Child of God&#8217;.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I ask questions and start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[A diet of one thing. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #50]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/a-diet-of-one-thing</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/a-diet-of-one-thing</guid><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2026 11:02:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>A diet filled with one thing, however good that one thing might be, is a bad diet that will make you sick. Diversity of foods is essential to good health. </span></p><p><span>I have a coworker who listens almost exclusively to AM800 talk radio. I don&#8217;t have any real objections to this radio station. But a mind diet filled only with this stuff is unhealthy. </span></p><p><span>Algorithms online often feed us a steady flow of the same stuff. No wonder then that we are seeing so much mental, spiritual, emotional and societal sickness. </span></p><p><span>This is one of the primary reasons I won&#8217;t allow my children to ever have social media. It&#8217;s a lonely position to take. It seems counter cultural. But I don&#8217;t need a study to confirm what my eyes already see and my heart instinctively knows; that screens and social media are harming our children, our relationships, and our culture. </span></p><p>If we want to get well, we have to change and diversify what we&#8217;re consuming. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Each day I share a short thought I call &#8220;Daily DADS&#8482;&#8221;. I would love to share these daily thoughts with you and have you join me on this journey of fatherhood. Hit subscribe to join me.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><h4><strong>The First DAD.</strong></h4><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I am a man, husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for me and for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others when and where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, when I started creating DADS&#8482;, it was always going to be about more than just devices. It&#8217;s mostly about inspiring and encouraging all of us to be more present, develop character and create real connection. It&#8217;s also about encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes; so that the world and all our lives might be a little more joyful, peaceful, and hopeful.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I believe that the most important and unifying identity we each share is &#8216;Child of God&#8217;.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I ask questions and start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Before we eat the rice]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #49]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/before-we-eat-the-rice</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/before-we-eat-the-rice</guid><pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2026 11:03:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>Three days ago my wife made a delicious dinner that included rice for our family; nothing unusual here because she is very talented in the kitchen. </span></p><p><span>Because there are seven people in our family, we each have a day of the week that we are assigned to say the families prayers. With 5 children ranging from age 4 to 12 the type and quality of prayer varies from day to day; but we persist because it&#8217;s a moment to unify in gratitude. </span></p><p><span>Before we prayed that day, I took a moment to reflect with my children more deeply. </span></p><p><span>Too often we sit down and begin eating before realizing and recognizing the many hands that made the meal possible. </span></p><p><span>The loving hands of a mother to cook the rice. The strong hands of a store employee to unload heavy bags of rice and stack the shelves. The steady hands of a truck driver who maybe hasn&#8217;t seen home in weeks who drove the rice across the country. The skilled hands of a farmer who planted and grew the rice and labored over the crops for months. </span></p><p><span>The truth is we need so many others; people we may never meet, to make and enjoy a meal around our family table. We all warm our hands by fires we did not build and harvest fruits we did not plant. </span></p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Each day I share a short thought I call &#8220;Daily DADS&#8482;&#8221;. I would love to share these daily thoughts with you and have you join me on this journey of fatherhood. Hit subscribe to join me.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><h4><strong>The First DAD.</strong></h4><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I am a man, husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for me and for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others when and where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, when I started creating DADS&#8482;, it was always going to be about more than just devices. It&#8217;s mostly about inspiring and encouraging all of us to be more present, develop character and create real connection. It&#8217;s also about encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes; so that the world and all our lives might be a little more joyful, peaceful, and hopeful.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I believe that the most important and unifying identity we each share is &#8216;Child of God&#8217;.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I ask questions and start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Start at home ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #48]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/start-at-home</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/start-at-home</guid><pubDate>Thu, 20 Aug 2026 11:00:58 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I heard it said once that no other success will compensate for failure in the home. My experience has been that when my relationships at home are tumultuous or lackluster, the other areas of my life become more muted. Success at work and progress toward a goal always feels better when the relationships at home are going well. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Each day I share a short thought I call &#8220;Daily DADS&#8482;&#8221;. I would love to share these daily thoughts with you and have you join me on this journey of fatherhood. Hit subscribe to join me.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><h4><strong>The First DAD.</strong></h4><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I am a man, husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for me and for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others when and where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, when I started creating DADS&#8482;, it was always going to be about more than just devices. It&#8217;s mostly about inspiring and encouraging all of us to be more present, develop character and create real connection. It&#8217;s also about encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes; so that the world and all our lives might be a little more joyful, peaceful, and hopeful.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I believe that the most important and unifying identity we each share is &#8216;Child of God&#8217;.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I ask questions and start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Still a mystery ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #47]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/still-a-mystery</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/still-a-mystery</guid><pubDate>Wed, 19 Aug 2026 11:03:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>Knowing another is foundational to having meaningful relationship with them. Without asking questions we will never know how another thinks, feels, or perceives the world. We will never know their story; their hopes and fear, their gifts and weakness. </span></p><p><span>It struck me today that over my 14-years of marriage, I&#8217;ve allowed myself to ask fewer questions. When I first met my wife she was a mystery and adventure that I wanted to know all about. So I asked questions. </span></p><p><span>She still is a mystery and adventure. The difference is that I probably spend too much time assuming I know and nowhere near enough time exploring who she is by asking good questions. </span></p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Each day I share a short thought I call &#8220;Daily DADS&#8482;&#8221;. I would love to share these daily thoughts with you and have you join me on this journey of fatherhood. Hit subscribe to join me.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><h4><strong>The First DAD.</strong></h4><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" 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srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I am a man, husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for me and for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others when and where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, when I started creating DADS&#8482;, it was always going to be about more than just devices. It&#8217;s mostly about inspiring and encouraging all of us to be more present, develop character and create real connection. It&#8217;s also about encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes; so that the world and all our lives might be a little more joyful, peaceful, and hopeful.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I believe that the most important and unifying identity we each share is &#8216;Child of God&#8217;.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I ask questions and start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Doing hard things. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #46]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/doing-hard-things</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/doing-hard-things</guid><pubDate>Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:03:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>We live in such an age of comfort and convenience that I have to be deliberate in my efforts to teach my children the value of hard work. Even if AI and robotics take &#8216;all&#8217; the jobs, my children still need to know how to work hard; because even if work stops being an economic necessity, it will always be necessary for the wellbeing of their soul. </span></p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Each day I share a short thought I call &#8220;Daily DADS&#8482;&#8221;. I would love to share these daily thoughts with you and have you join me on this journey of fatherhood. Hit subscribe to join me.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><h4><strong>The First DAD.</strong></h4><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I am a man, husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for me and for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others when and where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, when I started creating DADS&#8482;, it was always going to be about more than just devices. It&#8217;s mostly about inspiring and encouraging all of us to be more present, develop character and create real connection. It&#8217;s also about encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes; so that the world and all our lives might be a little more joyful, peaceful, and hopeful.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I believe that the most important and unifying identity we each share is &#8216;Child of God&#8217;.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I ask questions and start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Let’s be human again. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #45]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/lets-be-human-again-533</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/lets-be-human-again-533</guid><pubDate>Mon, 17 Aug 2026 11:03:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>As more people turn to AI for relationships and connection, my call and invitation is to return to being human! To laugh with loved ones, conquer problems with friends, and experience intimacy with our lovers.</span></p><p><span>Let&#8217;s be human again. Let&#8217;s sit around fires and tell stories. Let&#8217;s rediscover the stillness and majesty of nature. Let&#8217;s build friendships in the furnace of adversity. Let&#8217;s dream great visions and discipline ourselves to realize them.</span></p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Join me on this journey. The world needs more DADS&#8482;. Subscribe to receive my daily thoughts.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share Dads Against Devices&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share"><span>Share Dads Against Devices</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/lets-be-human-again-533/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/lets-be-human-again-533/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I&#8217;m a husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, DADS&#8482; is about more than just devices. It&#8217;s also about inspiring men to be their best and encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I encourage others to get married, stay married, and have children.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Learn More&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about"><span>Learn More</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Being Consistent]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #44]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/being-consistent</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/being-consistent</guid><pubDate>Sun, 16 Aug 2026 11:02:33 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Of all the things I&#8217;ve struggled with in my life, consistency is probably number one. It&#8217;s easy to show up once, twice, even three times. But showing up every day is much harder. Whether it&#8217;s taking care of my health, being an engaged parent and husband, or working toward a goal; consistency is the road I must walk. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Join me on this journey. The world needs more DADS&#8482;. Subscribe to receive my daily thoughts.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share Dads Against Devices&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share"><span>Share Dads Against Devices</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/being-consistent/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/being-consistent/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I&#8217;m a husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, DADS&#8482; is about more than just devices. It&#8217;s also about inspiring men to be their best and encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I encourage others to get married, stay married, and have children.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Learn More&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about"><span>Learn More</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Eye contact. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #43]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/eye-contact</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/eye-contact</guid><pubDate>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:02:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It&#8217;s difficult to truly see another if you never look at them and make eye contact with them. This is an area in my life that I need to work on. Being able to see others is important for real connection. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Join me on this journey. The world needs more DADS&#8482;. Subscribe to receive my daily thoughts.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share Dads Against Devices&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share"><span>Share Dads Against Devices</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/eye-contact/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/eye-contact/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I&#8217;m a husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, DADS&#8482; is about more than just devices. It&#8217;s also about inspiring men to be their best and encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I encourage others to get married, stay married, and have children.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Learn More&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about"><span>Learn More</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Coworkers won’t miss me. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #42]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/coworkers-wont-miss-me</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/coworkers-wont-miss-me</guid><pubDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 11:03:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I went to a regional employee event this week and had a blast. But as I spent the day with coworkers it struck me that none of them would miss me if I wasn&#8217;t there; but my family missed me. It was a good reminder of what matters most. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Join me on this journey. The world needs more DADS&#8482;. Subscribe to receive my daily thoughts.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share Dads Against Devices&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share"><span>Share Dads Against Devices</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/coworkers-wont-miss-me/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/coworkers-wont-miss-me/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I&#8217;m a husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, DADS&#8482; is about more than just devices. It&#8217;s also about inspiring men to be their best and encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I encourage others to get married, stay married, and have children.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Learn More&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about"><span>Learn More</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Screaming for attention]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #41]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/screaming-for-attention</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/screaming-for-attention</guid><pubDate>Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:03:29 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In a world where everyone is screaming for our attention; it&#8217;s easy to give our attention to things that don&#8217;t really matter; like social media. Our friends and family won&#8217;t likely be the loudest so unless we intentionally give them our attention. Our relationships need our attention and we need relationships to thrive. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Join me on this journey. The world needs more DADS&#8482;. Subscribe to receive my daily thoughts.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share Dads Against Devices&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share"><span>Share Dads Against Devices</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/screaming-for-attention/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/screaming-for-attention/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I&#8217;m a husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, DADS&#8482; is about more than just devices. It&#8217;s also about inspiring men to be their best and encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I encourage others to get married, stay married, and have children.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Learn More&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about"><span>Learn More</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fitness and fatherhood]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #40]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/fitness-and-fatherhood</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/fitness-and-fatherhood</guid><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 11:02:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My fitness and weight have ebbed and flowed over the years and I have learned that being an engaged, present father is easier and more enjoyable when I am taking better care of my physical body. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Join me on this journey. The world needs more DADS&#8482;. Subscribe to receive my daily thoughts.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share Dads Against Devices&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share"><span>Share Dads Against Devices</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/fitness-and-fatherhood/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/fitness-and-fatherhood/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I&#8217;m a husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I am hearing and seeing in men, families and children today &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, disease, and despair to name just four, and I want something better for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, DADS&#8482; is about more than just devices. It&#8217;s also about inspiring men to be their best and encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I encourage others to get married, stay married, and have children.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Learn More&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about"><span>Learn More</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[14-years]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #39]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/14-years</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/14-years</guid><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2026 11:01:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today is my fourteenth wedding anniversary. If I have learned anything over these 14-years it&#8217;s that a marriage is a living thing that requires diligent and consistent effort for it to thrive. Over the years the marriage has had periods of neglect and its wilted a little. But like a fruit bearing tree, when I take the time to nurture and tend to to it, the fruit at harvest is worth all the effort. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Join me on this journey. The world needs more DADS&#8482;. Subscribe to receive my daily thoughts.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share Dads Against Devices&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share"><span>Share Dads Against Devices</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/14-years/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/14-years/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I&#8217;m a husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I see in today&#8217;s families and children &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, and despair to name just three, and I want something better for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, DADS&#8482; is about more than just devices. It&#8217;s also about inspiring men to be their best and encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I encourage others to get married, stay married, and have children.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Learn More&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about"><span>Learn More</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Alone with themselves]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #38]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/alone-with-themselves</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/alone-with-themselves</guid><pubDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:03:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>Too many of our rising generation are so distracted or addicted to screens that they find little time to be alone with themselves. </span></p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Join me on this journey. The world needs more DADS&#8482;. Subscribe to receive my daily thoughts.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share Dads Against Devices&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share"><span>Share Dads Against Devices</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/alone-with-themselves/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/alone-with-themselves/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I&#8217;m a husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I see in today&#8217;s families and children &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, and despair to name just three, and I want something better for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, DADS&#8482; is about more than just devices. It&#8217;s also about inspiring men to be their best and encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I encourage others to get married, stay married, and have children.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Learn More&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about"><span>Learn More</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The decisions I make. ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Daily DADS&#8482; #37]]></description><link>https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/the-decisions-i-make</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/the-decisions-i-make</guid><pubDate>Sun, 09 Aug 2026 11:02:03 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Something that has weighed on my mind is how the decisions I make will impact and influence my children. The homes I buy, the friends I keep, the hobbies I pursue; it all feeds into who and what they will do and become. </p><p>From my home, </p><p><em><strong>Matthew</strong></em></p><p>Founder, DADS&#8482;&#8212; Dads Against Devices&#8482;</p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><strong>Join me on this journey. The world needs more DADS&#8482;. Subscribe to receive my daily thoughts.</strong></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><p></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share Dads Against Devices&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/?utm_source=substack&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_content=share&amp;action=share"><span>Share Dads Against Devices</span></a></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/the-decisions-i-make/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/p/the-decisions-i-make/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><h3>The First DAD</h3><p>Hello. I&#8217;m Matthew, and I&#8217;m grateful you&#8217;re here because I believe that together we can help each other as men, husbands, and fathers.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg" width="1456" height="1092" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1092,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:6441651,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://dadsagainstdevices.substack.com/i/undefined?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" title="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!k6Do!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9d82ba5a-0e2b-4e3a-bc39-80c31f4009b7_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg aria-hidden="true" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>I started DADS&#8482; because I&#8217;m a husband and father of five young children who is concerned about the outcomes I see in today&#8217;s families and children &#8212; dysfunction, divorce, and despair to name just three, and I want something better for mine.</p><p>I am far from perfect &#8212; and I am certainly not claiming to have all the answers &#8212; But I&#8217;m determined to be the best man, husband and father I can be, and to help others where I can.</p><p>At an event on June 21, 2025, I turned to a friend and asked, half-jokingly, if he would join me in not giving our kids smartphones until they turn 18. I said, &#8220;We&#8217;ll be Dads Against Devices.&#8221; It was my wife who noticed the acronym: DAD. And that&#8217;s how DADS&#8482; got started.</p><p>Whilst I am concerned about technology and its impact, DADS&#8482; is about more than just devices. It&#8217;s also about inspiring men to be their best and encouraging husbands and fathers to lead by example and instruction in their own homes.</p><h4><strong>What </strong><span>I </span><strong>Believe.</strong></h4><p>I love my family and believe that presence, character, and real connection are at the heart of the human experience and central to living a life of meaning, purpose, and joy.</p><p>I believe that everyone should strengthen their bodies and <em>nurture the deeply human attributes of love, communication, empathy, kindness, gratitude, humility, forgiveness, critical thinking, imagination, discipline, patience, integrity, resilience, courage, wisdom, and faith.</em></p><p>I believe that being a husband and father is among the most noble pursuits.</p><p>I believe fatherhood is absolutely essential to the wellbeing of children.</p><p>I believe that fathers should lead their families by example and instruction in unity with mothers &#8212; supported by mentors and caregivers.</p><p>I believe that fathers have a solemn responsibility to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families.</p><p>I believe that family life and childhood should be protected from social media and unlimited, unmonitored, and unrestricted screen time, gaming, and the internet.</p><p>I believe that the Gospel of Jesus Christ provides the best framework for families, couples, and individuals to be successful.</p><p>I also believe that the traditional nuclear family is the fundamental building block of a healthy and functioning society.</p><p>This is why I strive to live my DADS&#8482; pledge.</p><h4><strong>My DADS&#8482; Pledge</strong></h4><p><em>I will lead my family by example and instruction to be present, build relationships, strengthen the body, build character, and nurture love, gratitude, faith, and other deeply human virtues.</em></p><h4><strong>What I do</strong></h4><ul><li><p>I strive to live my pledge in my own home, then invite others to join me.</p></li><li><p>I start conversations around manhood, marriage, and parenting.</p></li><li><p>I encourage others to get married, stay married, and have children.</p></li><li><p>I share my knowledge, experiences, and resources to help other DADS&#8482;.</p><p></p></li></ul><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Learn More&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.dadsagainstdevices.com/about"><span>Learn More</span></a></p><p></p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>