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A dad learns that sometimes what you’re paying for isn’t what you’re buying—it’s what you’re offering. The last night, my wife got a text that’s been stuck in my mind ever since. It was prom night. Liz was in the girls’ suite with other moms, helping them settle in, and I was back in our… Read more

I’m Carlos Samaniego, and I’m officially off duty. Well, sort of. For the past four years, I wasn’t just a dad, I was a volleyball dad. And if you’ve ever been a club travel parent, you know that’s not a job. It’s a full-time, unpaid position with overtime, no benefits, and the distinct privilege of… Read more

We’re Almost There (And So Is the Dog) We’re less than four weeks away from being official empty nesters. Not “they’re off at volleyball practice” empty. Not “they’re spending the night at a friend’s” empty. We mean actually empty—the kind where the silence is louder than the TV and your fridge items no longer disappear… Read more

Not going to lie, writing this first newsletter has me feeling all the feels. I have tissues nearby as I share this next chapter in our family’s story. Our daughter Bella just wrapped up club volleyball season, turned 18, is graduating high school this June and heading across the country to the U.S. Coast Guard… Read more

Well… it’s happening. After two decades of packed lunches, volleyball road trips, prom dress shopping, and “Wait, you need a tri-fold poster board tonight?!” moments—we’re officially weeks away from becoming empty nesters. And we’re feeling all the feels. This newsletter? It started somewhere between a Costco run and one of those quiet moments where we… Read more

For Every Parent Who Gave Their All… and Is Just Getting Started.There’s a moment coming.June 30th.We’ve circled it on the calendar. That’s the day our youngest daughter, Bella, reports to the United States Coast Guard Academy. And just like that, the house that once echoed with kids, car keys, and chaos… will fall quiet. It’s… Read more