23/03/2025
Hey Gang, itâs DanâDexterâs Dadâfresh off a back session and riding an endorphin high thatâs turned my pain into a smile (check out the picâIâm buzzing!). Today was a tough one: I worked from 05:45 to 14:00 on barely any sleep, up late overthinking and missing my little hero, Dexter, so much it hurts. Heâs 4 years old, already over 4ft tall and 40kg of pure mischief (nurses and doctors estimate heâll hit 6ft6-6ft8 one day!). As an older dad, I feel the weight of being there for him, especially on his tough days when the fun has to endâa struggle I know many of you with neurodiverse kids can relate to. đ
It wouldâve been easy to crash on the sofa, watch junk TV, or doomscroll, but I chose to show up for Dexter. I went home, brainstormed some ideas for our groupâs mission, and then hit the gym for a back session. I poured everything into itâevery rep was for him, keeping me in better shape (if you can call this a shape đ€Ł) so I can be the dad he needs. I measure my strength in âDexters,â not kgs, because I need to be ready to handle him when heâs having a hard time. That endorphin rush after the session turned my longing for Dexter into a smile, and I want you to feel that too.
I became a dad later in life, and as a Thor geek, I call Dexter my MjolnirâThorâs hammerâbecause heâs my driving force, pushing me to be worthy and keep going through the tough times. My t-shirt says âTraining for the Ragnarok,â and for me, thatâs about preparing for the biggest battlesâlike the ones we face as parents, siblings, medical professionals, or neurodiverse individuals. Weâre all fighting for our little legends, and the gym is where I turn my negative energy into positive power.
If youâre feeling low and itâs gym time, Iâm begging youâperk yourself up, grab your favorite gym shirt, and go train hard. Donât drown in sorrow or reach for a bottleâchannel that energy into something powerful for your reason, your Mjolnir. Whether youâre a parent, a sibling, a professional, or on the spectrum yourself, letâs lift together for the ones who matter most. That post-workout high is real, and itâs waiting for you! đȘ
Iâm working on setting up a donation platform soon to fund sensory equipment for Dexterâs nursery at Bedwas Infants. If we can build momentum, weâll spread the love to other schools, helping more kids like ours find calm in sensory spaces. Letâs drive this group forward togetherâshare your stories, your reasons, your little legends in the comments. I want to hear about your Mjolnirs and what keeps you going. Together, we can make a difference for our kids and our community.
Big love from me, Dexterâs Dad, and my Mjolnir, Dexter Manley. đđȘđ