Ask any parent about their most meaningful moments and you’ll often get a pause. Not because there’s nothing to say—but because there’s too much. A montage of memories floods in: the first steps, the bedtime stories, the muddy football matches, the quiet car rides, the ordinary things that become extraordinary with time.
For Alex Horne, creator of Taskmaster and father of three boys, one of the most powerful things he’s done as a dad isn’t a show, a book, or a project. It’s a home video. Or, more precisely—a thousand little ones.
In the latest episode of The Dadsnet Podcast, Alex shares the story behind a tradition he’s kept for over 16 years: every Saturday, he films a six-second video of his kids. Just a tiny window into their lives that week. A slice of time.
“I’ve been doing it since they were babies. Every Saturday. Just six seconds. Now, when we stitch them together, it’s this incredible story of their lives.”
The video is now over an hour long. He and his wife sit down every five years with a glass of wine and watch it—watching their boys grow up in fast-forward. It’s funny, touching, chaotic, and entirely theirs.
“You see them from nappies to facial hair. From first words to teenage shrugs. You remember things you forgot you’d forgotten.”
It’s a powerful reminder that the best memories aren’t always the big holidays or staged photos. Sometimes, they’re in the background noise—the unremarkable Saturdays that quietly build a lifetime.
For new dads or seasoned ones, Alex’s tradition offers something rare: a practical, doable way to create an emotional legacy. No apps, no editing skills—just six seconds. A brief, beautiful pause in the rush of life.
“Everyone’s got a phone. You don’t need to make it perfect. Just make it.”
It’s easy to feel like time is racing ahead, especially with older kids. But as Alex’s story shows, even small habits can slow it down just enough to help you see what really matters.
