So, the app. I’ve been tinkering with it for the past four months - it took over the remaining of my little free time but in a good way. The more it takes shape, the more I’m genuinely excited about it.

One reason I started this newsletter is to shine a little light on it - because, let’s be honest, even the best apps can end up swimming on the bottom of the search results, where it's dark, cold and only ugly weird fish swim. And this one? I think it deserves better. Maybe not as cool as dolphins (also: not fish), but definitely worth a swim in clearer waters.

Anyway - updates are coming every two weeks. Not sure what shape they’ll take yet, but I’ll do my best to make it a story worth following. Here we go.

As the name suggests, The Dad Journal is, well, a journaling app. Classic case of scratching your own itch - and I definitely scratched mine when I started building it.

I’ve been a dad for four years now, and let me tell you, my brain isn’t exactly a high-capacity storage device. I’ve struggled to keep track of everything - what we had for breakfast, what actually worked, what definitely didn’t.

But more than that, there were all these little moments I wanted to hold onto. The kind that slip away if you don’t put them somewhere. So I built a place for them. For me, and maybe for other dads like me.

But it’s not just about the kid. I learned that the hard way. Having a child is massive - probably the biggest shift life can throw at you. And while a lot of attention (rightfully) goes to the mum, it’s just as tough for dads too.

So here’s the thing, dads: you’ve got to take care of yourself. You’ve got to stay in shape, keep your mind clear, stay present. It’s not selfish - it’s necessary. That’s why the app also leans into that side of things. It’s not just a memory box - it’s a check-in point for you, too.

There’s a lot cooking this summer - think: a proper landing page, a Kickstarter campaign (mostly for the confidence boost, not the cash, although extra cash never hurt anybody), and the first public beta, leading up to the big release. It’s shaping up to be an exciting ride.

I want to turn it into a story worth telling - complete with numbers, small wins, failures, and lessons learned. Something other indie devs might find useful - or at least relatable while they’re burning the midnight oil with their own side projects.

Stay tuned, dads.