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Fix It, Fake It, Crush It

June 30, 2025

Hey Pops,

Today's lineup: becoming the homework hero without revealing you forgot everything after high school, fixing stuff around the house without creating bigger problems, and troubleshooting computers like you actually know what RAM does. Plus an AI tool that turns you into the neighborhood problem-solver.

Time to fake it 'til you make it.

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🤓

HOMEWORK HERO (WITHOUT THE PANIC SWEAT)

THE SITUATION:

Your kid slides their math homework across the kitchen table. You glance down. Suddenly you're questioning everything you learned in school and wondering if "I'll ask your mom" counts as parenting.

ASK CHATGPT:

"My 4th grader needs help with [specific problem/concept]. Explain it in a way I can understand first, then give me simple language to teach it to them without looking like I'm reading from Wikipedia."

Follow up with: "Give me 3 similar practice problems we can work through together, with step-by-step solutions."

BONUS TIP: Screenshot the explanation. You'll need it again tomorrow when they ask the same question and you've already forgotten everything.

💻

COMPUTER PROBLEMS (THAT AREN'T ACTUALLY BROKEN)

THE SITUATION:

Your laptop is "running slow," which in dad language means "I have 47 browser tabs open, haven't restarted in 3 weeks, and downloaded something sketchy looking for a recipe." Now everything takes forever and you're one frozen screen away from buying a new computer.

ASK CHATGPT:

"My computer is running slow and freezing. I'm not tech-savvy but I can follow simple instructions. Give me a step-by-step cleanup process to try before calling tech support or buying new hardware."

FOLLOW-UP PROMPT: "Create a weekly computer maintenance routine that takes under 10 minutes and prevents most common slowdown issues."

DAD TRUTH: 90% of computer problems are solved by restarting, closing tabs, and not clicking on ads that promise to "speed up your PC." But now you have a system.

🏠

DAD PROJECTS (THAT ACTUALLY GET FINISHED)

THE SITUATION:

You've got that growing list of "quick fixes" around the house. The leaky faucet, the squeaky door, that outlet that sparks occasionally. Each one seems simple until you're three YouTube videos deep and still confused about which tool does what.

ASK CHATGPT:

"I need to fix [specific problem]. Give me a step-by-step guide assuming I have basic tools but limited experience. Include what could go wrong and when to call a professional instead of making it worse."

FOLLOW-UP PROMPT: "Create a seasonal home maintenance checklist with simple tasks I can actually complete myself, organized by difficulty level."

REALITY CHECK: Sometimes the best DIY decision is knowing when to call someone who won't accidentally flood the basement. AI can help you figure out which is which.

🧠

AI BYTE

Tool Highlight: Gamma
Makes presentations that don't look like you threw them together during a commercial break. Just describe what you need and it builds slides, finds images, and handles the design. Used it for my kid's school project presentation – suddenly I'm the "creative" parent. Free tier gets you started, premium if you get addicted to looking competent.

⭐

ONE THING TO TRY THIS WEEK

Let your kid pick one chore they hate most — dishes, laundry, picking up their room.

Then tell them:
“Let’s ask ChatGPT to make it more fun, faster, or at least less horrible.”

Use the prompt:
“Turn [chore] into a challenge or game a kid would actually want to do. Include points, a timer, and optional dad participation.”

Bonus: It might actually get done. Double bonus: You might win back a sliver of household respect.