Dads in the Limelight ( #limelightdads ) - Brad Lawless ( @BradLawless ) #dadchat

Our 511th Dad in the Limelight is Brad Lawless. I want to thank Brad for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing him with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

I work as the vice-president of social strategy for Collective Bias, a shopper social media company that solves shopper marketing problems for brands by coordinating the production of engaging story-based online content that connects their products to specific retail channels. I grew up in Southern Arkansas and have lived in Northwest Arkansas for the last 20 years. I love to write, read, play video games and help those around me achieve their goals.

2) Tell me about your family

We’re a modern day Brady Bunch. My wife, Courtney, and I were previously married before getting together. We married in August 2013. She has three girls, ages 5, 8 and 10, and I have an almost 11-year-old boy and and almost 13-year-old girl. Sometimes we have no kids with us. Other times we have a few or all of them since since their other parents have primary custody.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

Staying connected to my kids after the divorce. They’re entering that pre-teen/teenage phase where they want to see more of their friends and maybe don’t tell their parents every detail of their day. When I don’t see them every day, I have to come up with creative ways to ask them about what’s happening in their lives to avoid getting the “nothing special…it was just a regular day” answer. I don’t see this as too different from most parents with kids at this stage. My weekday conversations just happen on a phone rather than in person.

Learning how to be a step-father brought it’s own challenges and rewards. I’m now lucky enough to have 3 new girls in my life, but I’m not their dad. I’m the guy that married their mom. When they live with us, I’m there to love them and guide them, but we decided early on that any discipline comes from their mom. The same goes for my kids with Courtney. All our kids are really good kids, so this is rarely an issue, but we want to ensure that the step-kid/step-parent relationship is as healthy as it can be.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

Be honest with your kids….about your fears, your hopes, your dreams, everything. We are their authority figures, but they also need to understand that we make mistakes, too. None of us have this parenthood thing figured out. There is no manual. We may not make the best decisions all the times, but we do it with the best of intentions. Read Daring Greatly by Brene Brown. It will change the way you look at parenting.

5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?

I don’t know that I have. Since my kids live with their mom most of the time, I try to do all my work when they’re away. On those weekends and holidays when they’re at our house, I try to focus all my attention on them. I know I don’t succeed all the time, but that’s the plan.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

I try to learn from everyone around me, not just fathers. I’m always looking for people who can show better ways to live in the moment, show more compassion and meaningfully connect with those around them.

brad-lawless
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

Just that I love all our kids (mine and my wife’s) and I love watching them turn into the people they’re becoming. It’s really fun watching them get to know their all of our kids get to know each other as well.

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
Which ones do you choose? Watching my children being born (one in the hospital and one at home.) Watching my daughter dance or listening to my son describe a video game he wants to design. Having all our kids participate in our wedding last year. Laughing together with all of them as play games and watch movies late on a summer night.

If you have any questions for Brad, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

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Dads in the Limelight ( #limelightdads ) – Brad Lawless ( @BradLawless ) #dadchat

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