Surviving (and Enjoying) a Solo Dad Day With Two Kids

Let’s get one thing straight: solo parenting with two kids under four is not for the weak. It’s less of a “day off” and more of an emotional and logistical escape room. But it’s also where some of the best moments as a dad are born, if you don’t let the chaos eat you alive first.

I’ve got a three-year-old who’s part ninja and a two-month-old who thinks sleep is for the weak. When it’s just me with them for the day, I know two things: I need a game plan, and I need to let go of the idea that I’m going to win.

Prep is everything. The night before, I lay out clothes, prep snacks, and stock the diaper bag like I’m going on a three-day backpacking trip. I also give myself one “anchor activity,” a park trip, a Target run, or building a blanket fort. That one thing becomes the center of the day, and everything else just flows around it.

Flexibility is your best friend. Things will go sideways. Naps won’t happen. The baby will need a change of clothes in the middle of Starbucks. But the trick is not to fight it. If you can stay calm, the kids stay calmer. And when all else fails, I go full Dad Showman. Silly voices, impromptu dance parties, dramatic readings of board books; it’s all fair game.

At the end of the day, when everyone’s alive, fed, and mostly clean, you’ll feel like a superhero. Exhausted? Absolutely. But also more connected to your kids than ever. And that’s worth every diaper blowout and snack meltdown.