Our 832nd Dad in the Limelight is Mike Woods of Good Men, Great Dads. I want to thank Mike Woods for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Mike Woods with all of you.
1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)
My name is Mike Woods- I’m a husband to the love of my life, Kristen, and the father to three young men ages 5, 4, and 2. I’m an only child raised by a single mother who worked full time and put herself through college and graduate school (she has 4 masters degrees!). Growing up without a father lead me to launch Good Men Great Dads. The mission is to foster men who are present and engaged and live life with purpose and passion. Our tag line is “Creating an Army of Well-Connected Men who are Empowered to Serve.”
2) Tell me about your family
Let me first say that I’m blessed beyond belief! In all honesty, I knew the moment I met my wife that I’d be with her forever. We met in February of 2010, we were engaged in September of the same year, and married in October of the following year. We live in a small town in Michigan, about 5 miles from my mom and stepdad and about 2 miles from my Grandparents. Every Sunday everyone gets together at my parents house for dinner and to play cards. It’s an awesome tradition to share with our boys. All that to say, it’s been an amazing adventure and it continues to get better every day!
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
My kids are still pretty young, but so far, cultivating and maintaining my relationship with my wife has been more difficult than I thought it would be. Having kids really shifts your priorities and for a while- we were both very wrapped up in them. Now I make it a point to give her my attention first thing when I walk in the door at the end of the day. Even if its as simple as a quick hug and a kiss, I always address her first, then give my attention to the kids.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
Never stop improving. I think there is a falsehood about fathers that you have to put all of your effort and attention on the family. To paraphrase Stephen Covey- you have to sharpen your saw. You can’t take care of others, without first taking care of yourself. The second thing I’d say is, surround yourself with the best and remember to ask for help when you need it. A lot of guys think their masculinity comes in to question if/when they ask for help, when, in fact, the exact opposite is true.
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
Work/life balance is a struggle for me. I want to spend as much time as possible with my family, but the nature of my full time job doesn’t always allow that. I really try my best to be present in the moment at all times and appreciate the memories when I’m away.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
To be honest, pretty much everything I’ve learned about fatherhood has come from other fathers I’ve had contact with. My Grandfather was a great role model as a kid, and I’ve been very lucky to have great mentors and role models as an adult to help me along this journey. The recurring theme I see with everyone I talk to is that everyone wants the best for their kids, but everyone’s journey is different. What works for one family (or child for that matter) may not work for the next.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
A few things I’ve learned the hard way: 1. Quit yelling. You only look like a fool. 2. You’d better have a good sense of humor or it’s going to be a long 18+ years.
8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
The best experiences are when I see one of my sons “get it.” Obviously, I love to see my kids succeed, but life’s lessons are learned through trial and failure. It’s tough to watch your kids struggle, but I allow it to happen because I know they’re growing. The most satisfying feeling is watching their faces when that something clicks inside and they “get it.”
If you have any questions for Mike Woods, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!
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