Episode 003 · Fatherhood

Four Kids, One Shot: Creating Moments That Stick

Guest: Jason KimbrowThe SkilledDad Podcast

About This Episode

Jason Kimbrow, a dad of four from Fayetteville, Arkansas, walks through what he's learned going from one kid to four, including the two miscarriages his family endured along the way. His big theme is intentionality: creating moments kids will never forget (he built his son a wiffle ball field for his 13th birthday), running weekly family nights, and seizing teachable moments instead of letting them pass. He's honest that he loses his cool and that the fix isn't being perfect, it's apologizing and modeling humility. For dads in a hard season, his message is simple: keep walking, play the long game, and remember you only get one shot at this.

What You'll Take Away

01

Going from two to three kids is the hardest transition, not adding a fourth.

Once you hit three, you accept you will never have everything "done" — the work is always there, so you learn to leave the dishes and get to the T-ball game.

02

Create moments on purpose.

Theme your vacations, run weekly family nights (burgers and board games, movie night, pizza night), and make birthdays a big deal. Kids remember the moments you build for them.

03

Seize teachable moments in real time.

— sibling name-calling, judging a stranger, complaining about a kid at school — instead of letting them slide.

04

When you lose your cool, apologize.

Pulling a kid aside and owning it ("it's not you, it's me") cleans the slate and teaches them humanity and humility.

05

Attention, affection, affirmation.

Kids spell love T-I-M-E. Being physically present isn't the same as being mentally present — sometimes that means putting your phone in another room.

06

Get smart with money early.

Jason wishes someone had mentored him on investments, real estate, and building income — not just basic budgeting — because kids are expensive and the world changes fast.

I spent more money than I wanted to. And I built him a wiffle ball field. And I'm telling you, it was such a memory like he will never, ever, ever forget his 13th birthday.
— Jason Kimbrow

Put It Into Practice

Pick one recurring family night format (burgers and board games, movie night, pizza night) and put it on the calendar weekly — accept that some weeks it won't happen.

Add a conversation ritual to dinner like "high / low" (what was your high today, your low today) or "would you rather" to get kids talking.

Plan one big "moment" for the next birthday or milestone — something themed to that kid's current obsession (sports, wrestling, etc.).

The next time you lose your cool, pull the kid aside and apologize specifically: own it, name it, tell them it's not their fault, ask forgiveness.

Put your phone in another room for a set block each evening to be fully present.

One Email a Week. Worth Your Time.

Practical skills, real stories, and one thing to actually do this week with your family. Written by a dad in the trenches, not a marketing department.

Keep Listening

Fatherhood

Habits by Nine: Raising Capable Kids with Matt Karam

Zach sits down with Matt Karam, a lifelong martial arts instructor from Phoenix who, with his wife, has taught…

Fatherhood

Catch Them Being Good: Reinforcement, Consistency, and Quality Time with Dr. Larry Waldman

Zach sits down with Dr. Larry Waldman, a clinical child and forensic psychologist with roughly 50 years of exp…

Fatherhood

Holding the Frontline and the Homefront with Noam Markose

Zach sits down with Noam Markose, a marketer, dad of four, and active IDF reservist living in Jerusalem. Noam …