Name: Mario Bridges | City: Kansas City, MO | IG: @TheGreatEnergyPodcast

What does being a father mean to you?

Being a father means no matter how much this world tells me i ain’t shit. There are 4 set of eyes that believe i am the greatest man to ever what this earth. It gives me energy when i don’t have any to conquer this world. It gives me joy when this world takes all the joy i try to have every day.

Describe your experience with your father growing up and how that impacted you today.

My father wasn’t the greatest dad. One thing i knew he love me. He just didn’t know how to express that. It impacted me because i knew i would tell my own and show my own everyday that i loved em and they could call on me at any hour with any problem.

What things did you take from your experience growing up into your own fatherhood journey?

Growing up my dad didn’t show me manhood. The streets and my mom did. But what i really took was the mistakes both my parents made. I seen them put their relationship issues over their children. I seen that if things wasn’t well with my mom. We didn’t see my dad. One promise i told myself was no matter what me and my children mom are going thru i will be a father first.

Have you had any obstacles on your fatherhood journey?

Yes definitely. I experienced the loss of a child. My son passed and nobody ever thought about how the dad feels. And even in my case i was given the opportunity to be a father all the time. That affects the way i father now. My son lived in another state when he passed. I won’t ever live in another state then my daughter. I just wanna be close so i can protect her. I dealt with the typical BM drama. We all deal with it. I just always put my kids first.

What advice would you give others new on their fatherhood journey?

Always and i mean always put your Kids first. No matter if you and the mom are having sex. That kid comes first. Don’t forget that. You are a Dad. That child loves you. The mother can’t tell you the child doesn’t love you. We have too much technology in this world. You can be a dad all day. Not just sometimes. Be A DAD.

If you could write a quick letter to your father, starting with “Dear Father,” what would you say?

Dear old man,
I love you man. And yes we know you haven’t been the greatest but you can be. We know you haven’t always been a dad. But you can be. Time waits for no man. And yours has ran out. No matter how much you think your children don’t rock with you. We do and our disappointment only validates how high of a standard we believe you can hold. You are Great and i will never stop thinking that you are. All it takes is for you to walk in the greatness we know you can have. Love you old man.

Interested in joining our Fearless Father campaign? Click here.

Purchase our exclusive “I Dad Different” shirt today. USE CODE: DIFFERENT at check out. Click here to buy now.