Somewhere around year five of being a dad, the fog lifts. You realize your window is shrinking… and the quality of your influence has to rise.

In Episode 3 of To Dad, From Dad, I sit down with James - father of two (11 and 12), married 13 years - who’s staring down the next phase: raising a son who’s starving for independence, and a daughter who still wants her dad… for now.

We talk about the hard stuff men don’t always say out loud:

What it means to raise your son to replace you

What it means to raise your daughter to choose the right man

How attention, influence, and teenage years can go sideways if home isn’t safe

Why mentorship doesn’t require “perfect men,” just honest community

How career ambition changes when family becomes the priority

Why travel doesn’t need performance - your kids just want your presence

This episode is for dads who feel the weight of responsibility, want to lead their home well, and don’t want to wake up later wishing they had shown up more.

Takeaways you’ll hear in this conversation:

✅ How to listen without over-correcting your kids

✅ A practical way to think about priorities: God, wife, kids, self

✅ Why “showing up” matters more than grand gestures

✅ How to create a family culture by design: words, actions, and choosing love

If you’re building your life around being a better father and husband, follow for more conversations like this. And if something’s on your heart, you can submit a question at todadfromdad.com.