Name: Tim Campbell City: Waterloo Iowa Instagram: @Timthetrainer247
What does being a father mean to you?
Being a father means being someone my children can count on while I’m still figuring life out myself. I’m a single father raising a daughter and son, and providing for them is a responsibility I take seriously. I also want them to feel heard, loved, and comfortable coming to me with the hard stuff. They’re watching how I work, handle pressure, and take care of myself. I want the life I’m building to give them opportunities, and I want them to feel loved throughout the process.
Describe your experience with your father growing up and how that impacted you today.
Growing up, my father was my hero. I was heavily involved in sports, and so was he. We bonded over football, basketball, and video games. He was involved in what I loved, and we were close.
As I got older, he started working more, and our relationship changed. Looking back, I can see how tired he was—business after business, job after job, trying to find a way out of the rat race. Around that time, I started getting into things I shouldn’t have and stopped giving school my best effort. Most of our conversations happened when I was in trouble. He didn’t agree with my lifestyle, and the distance between us carried into adulthood. We went years without talking.
My father wasn’t abusive. He fed us, kept a roof over our heads, and provided for us. I remember that alongside the distance. Over the last two years, we’ve started reconnecting through short conversations and updates about my children. It’s a beginning I value.
What things/tools/gems did you take from your experience growing up into your Fatherhood journey today?
I learned how much it means to a child when their father takes an interest in what they love. Sports and video games gave my dad and me something to share, and those memories still matter to me.
I also understand the pressure of providing much more now that I’m a father. You can work hard for your family and still struggle to find the time and energy to connect with them. That’s something I want to stay aware of with my own children.
I want us to have conversations about their interests, their questions, and their everyday lives, so when something goes wrong, we already know how to talk to each other. My father’s effort taught me responsibility. The distance between us taught me to pay attention to the relationship while I’m carrying that responsibility.
Have you had any obstacles on your fatherhood journey? If so, explain.
One of my biggest challenges has been balancing full-time work, raising two children, taking care of my health, and building Body By Design. When your job provides for your family, the pressure can follow you home. There are times when I’m tired and still have responsibilities waiting on me. I’m learning to create more structure, manage my time, and recognize when I need support. I want to build a better future for my children while still having the energy and attention to be there for them today.
What advice would you give other Fathers on their journey?
Give your children your attention, even when you can’t give them everything they ask for. Listen to their stories. Get to know what matters to them. Take care of your health, because you deserve a life you can enjoy with them. When you get something wrong, own it and make the repair. You’re allowed to keep learning and ask for help. Fatherhood comes with pressure, but your children should also get to experience your joy.
If you could write a quick letter to your father, starting with “Dear Father,” what would you say?
Dear Father,
You were my hero growing up. I still remember how close we were and how much we connected through sports and video games. The years we spent apart haven’t erased those memories.
Looking back, I can see how tired you were, working and trying one thing after another to give us a better life. I also recognize the choices I made and how hard it was for us to understand each other as I got older.
Being a father myself has helped me understand the weight of providing for a family. I appreciate the food, the home, and the care you gave us. I also wish we hadn’t gone so long without talking.
I’m grateful we’re talking again. Even the short conversations and updates about the kids matter to me. I want us to keep getting to know each other as the men we are today.
Your son,
Tim
