Discover how Easy Eddie’s bold stand against Al Capone connects to the 85% Rule—and what it reveals about parenting, legacy, and the power of everyday choices.
Here’s the honest truth: Julia turns 16 this year—which means I’ve got about two summers left in the window where we spend 85% of our in-person time with our kids before they’re 18.
So, I chose something wildly un-Instagrammy: two weeks off social. (Okay, actually way more—but who’s counting?) No IG, no Threads, no YouTube, no Pinterest. Nada.
Note: Endless gratitude to Mel, my behind-the-scenes social media manager angel for keeping the monster engine humming—so I could step back and be here, fully.
P.S. Julia and I, soaking up a London summer on one of the dreamiest streets in the city. Bloom-filled balconies, sun-soaked sidewalks, and a mama savoring every second of these almost-grown-up years.
Since you will ask, linking my dress here.
And …. the moment I made that call, one story just wouldn’t let me go.
Trivia Time: What could Al Capone—the most infamous gangster in American history possibly have in common with WWII hero “Butch” O’Hare?
Turns out… everything!
The Story of Al Capone
Al Capone ruled the city with corruption, violence, and charm that kept him one step ahead of the law.
From 1925 to 1931, Al Capone’s grip on Chicago was absolute—bootlegging, bribery, and bloodshed were the tools of his empire. Cops were paid off, judges were compromised, and even the press couldn’t look away from his twisted charisma. Al Capone—Chicago’s most feared gangster—thought he was untouchable.
But his luck cracked when his own lawyer turned against him.
For all the power and protection Al Capone built, it only took one man—his own lawyer, Edward “Easy Eddie” O’Hare to break the cycle.
A man who traded luxury for legacy. A father who chose a good name over a good paycheck.
… And that decision changed everything.
Little did Capone know he’d spend 11 years behind bars—all because his own lawyer chose legacy over loyalty.
Who Was ‘Easy Eddie’
Edward O’Hare, known as “Easy Eddie,” wasn’t just Capone’s legal mastermind—he was the reason Big Al stayed out of prison for so long.
Eddie lived large: a mansion that spanned a city block, money, status, and protection. But behind the glitz was a father who couldn’t look his son in the eye without feeling the weight of his choices. Because there were two things Eddie knew he couldn’t give his boy unless something changed: a good name and a good example.
“Easy Eddie” kept the most ruthless gangster in America out of prison—until one evening Eddie’s son asked him the question that broke something open:
“Daddy, where does our money really come from?”
That one moment changed everything. So, Eddie did the unthinkable. He flipped on the mob.Hhe turned state’s witness. He testified against Capone, knowing it would cost him everything. And it did!
He risked (and ultimately lost) his life for one reason: to leave a legacy that mattered.
The Crippling Fate of The Father
Eddie was gunned down in a blaze of bullets on a Chicago street. But in his pocket, they found a poem clipped from a magazine—a father’s quiet prayer for time well spent.
Here’s the full poem they found in Easy Eddie’s pocket—a powerful reflection on the value of time:
“The clock of life is wound but once,
And no man has the power
To tell just when the hands will stop
At late or early hour.Now is the only time you own.
Live, love, toil with a will.
Place no faith in time,
For the clock may soon be still.”
This prayer, tucked in his coat, says it all: legacy is built moment by moment.
If Easy Eddie hadn’t been brutally killed for doing the right thing, I like to imagine he would’ve watched his son grow up with pride. Maybe he’d have stood in the crowd the day Butch was honored for his bravery. Maybe he’d have smiled quietly, knowing his hardest choice became his son’s compass.
The Ripple Effect of a Legacy of a Father
Because here’s the thing: when we choose integrity—especially when it costs us—we don’t always get to see the ripple effect. But it doesn’t make the ripple any less real.
His son, Edward “Butch” O’Hare, carried that legacy forward
As a Navy fighter pilot in WWII, Butch O’Hare found himself alone in the sky—low on fuel and ammunition, and staring down a squadron of enemy bombers barreling toward the American fleet.
He could’ve turned back. No one would’ve blamed him.
But he chose otherwise. Intead, Butch dove in headfirst, straight into danger, guns blazing. He broke the formation and took out five enemy aircraft before his ammunition ran dry.
And then?
He kept going.
With nothing left to fire, he turned his plane into a weapon—diving toward the enemy to clip wings and tails, doing whatever it took to break formation and protect the thousands of lives below.
It was gutsy. Reckless. Heroic. And it worked.
Shaken and scattered by Butch’s relentless assault, the enemy squadron veered off—turning away from the vulnerable American fleet Butch O’Hare was sworn to protect.
One pilot, low on fuel, out of ammo, and running on sheer courage, had held the line.
When Butch finally landed, the gun camera footage told the story his words couldn’t: five confirmed kills, countless lives saved, and one mission that changed history.
Picture This
The roar of your engine is the only sound in your ears—until it isn’t. You hear them before you see them: the low hum of enemy bombers, growing louder, closer. You glance down—fuel needle flirting with empty. No backup. No time. And below you, thousands of American sailors, unaware of what’s barreling toward them.
The cockpit reeks of sweat and metal. You can taste adrenaline—bitter and electric. Smoke curls in the air, oil clings to your gloves, and the sky ahead looks like a swarm of hornets.
But you don’t flinch. You dive headfirst into chaos—cutting through enemy formation like a blade through fog. One down. Then two. Then five. Fuel’s gone, hope’s thin—but you did it. You protected your people.
That was Butch O’Hare.
That’s what legacy looks like when courage outruns fear.
For that act of daring, he became the Navy’s first WWII flying ace and was awarded the Medal of Honor. Today, Chicago’s O’Hare Airport bears his name—not because he made the easy choice, but because he made the right one.
Different choices. Same family.
A father’s turn toward integrity created a ripple that outlived him.
Butch O’Hare’s Final Flight: The Hero Who Never Came Home
Butch O’Hare died in action on November 26, 1943, during a night mission in WWII.
Here’s what happened:
- He was flying from the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise as part of the Navy’s first-ever night fighter team.
- During a mission near the Gilbert Islands, his squadron was sent to intercept Japanese bombers targeting the fleet.
- In the darkness, amid confusion and poor visibility, Butch’s plane was likely hit—either by enemy fire or possibly even friendly fire during the chaotic engagement.
- His aircraft crashed into the ocean. His body was never recovered.
Butch was just 29 years old, and his death was a huge loss to the Navy. Despite his short life, his legacy lived on —not just in the name of Chicago’s bustling airport, but in something deeper: a father’s final act of integrity that lit a path for his son… and a son’s courage that still echoes through history.
Big Idea
Our kids get far more from who we are than what we post. Presence and integrity compound.
Try This at Home
✔️ Track the time that’s slipping by
Write your child’s age → circle how many years/weeks you realistically have left at home with them. Let that number guide your yes/no this month.
What Is the “85% Rule”?
The 85% Rule: We spend 85% of our in-person time with our kids before they turn 18.
Developmental psychologist Ariel Kalil explains it clearly: 85% of a child’s waking hours—from birth to age 18—are spent in environments chosen or shaped by parents. That includes everything from bedtime stories to school run pick-ups—most of which happen before they turn 18.
Why It Matters: The window of influence we have with our kids is more powerful—and more fleeting—than we often realize. Most of their cognitive, emotional, and behavioral shaping happens while they’re still under our roof. This isn’t just feel-good parenting talk; it’s backed by decades of developmental and economic research. And while little-kid cuddles get all the press, studies show that engaged time with teens significantly reduces risky behaviors and boosts academic and emotional well-being. In short? Every moment matters. You can’t pause time—but you can choose where your presence goes.
Letter To Me
✔️ Pick a presence practice
Choose [ x ] weeks off socials, [ x ] days off phones, or Mommy & Me daily 10-minute walk—choose one and calendar it.
✔️ Model the value
Tell your child why you’re choosing presence (“You matter more than my Instagram feed, DMs, my work, and everything else!”)—then show it. The “why” sticks longer than the rule.
Real Talk? Time doesn’t negotiate.
Easy Eddie knew it—he couldn’t buy more time with his son, but he could shape how he used it. And me? With Julia turning 16, I’ve got maybe two summers left in the window where our in-person time is still daily, still ordinary, still ours.
So I stepped off the scroll.
Not because it was easy, but because it was essential.
Because presence > performance. Every time.
Maybe you don’t need two weeks offline.
But maybe you need one moment of intentional pause.
Because how we spend our time is what we’re teaching.
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On The Anya Garcia Show
How to serve the eviction notices to the negative thoughts squatting rent-free in your head—and showing you how to keep them out for good.
ICYMI [In Case You Missed It]
- NASA Study: Children Are Born Creative Geniuses
- Bad Start, Messy Middle – why chaos is your proof of progress
- How To Manage Multiple Kids Without Loosing Your Sanity
Okay, my sweet friend, hit Reply and tell me: If you had two weeks of screen-free time, how would you spend it?
Right beside you —whether you’re counting summers or just trying to make it to bedtime.
Anya
P.S. Wait… did you actually make it all the way down here? Or did you skim like a pro? Either way, I’m just glad you’re here. While I slowly ease back into the swing of things, catch up on a few juicy episodes of The Anya Garcia Show. We’re talking motherhood, imposter syndrome, NASA findings (yep, really)—and the real-life moments that shape us.
🎧 Listen in—you’ll love what’s waiting for you.
🎥 Peek behind the scenes on my YouTube channel → [Watch now]
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