Simon T. Bailey | How to Be the Best Parent
Simon T. Bailey - Invest in Love
Simon T. Bailey’s life was thrown into a tailspin when his daughter muttered these 5 words: “I’ll just come back later”. This is the story of how one daughter made her father question everything.
Transcript:
Children up until the age of four are operating at the genius level. The same group of children were studied in their early 20s, and only 10% were still operating the the genius, or what I call the, "brilliance level," and in their late 20s, early 30s, only 2% were still operating at the genius or brilliance level.
The question you have, like I had, is where did this genius or brilliance go? It didn't go anywhere, but it became buried by a society that says, "Color within the lines, sit down, give it back, you can't do this."
By the time a child is 17 years of age, they have heard, "No," 150,000 times, and only, "Yes," 5,000 times. The more you continue to hear what you can't do, where you can't go, and who you can't become, there is a neurological path that is created in the brain that causes individuals to shut down.
I have gone through a divorce within the last year, and my two children, Daniel and Madison, they are now my greatest joys. Madison came into my office not too long ago, and she said, "Hey Daddy, what's going on?" I said, "Hey baby girl, how are you?" I was preparing to go on a trip out of town, and I was busy scurrying around. I was not totally focused on her.
She says to me, "Daddy, I see you're busy, I'll just come back later." I said, "Okay, baby girl," and I get on the plane later on, and it hit me that I missed a moment for spending that quality time with my baby girl because I was emotionally clueless, and emotionally unavailable, because I was so busy trying to make so much money that my ladder was against the wrong wall.
Their mother said to me, "You give everybody the best of you, but you give us the rest of you, and I don't want the leftovers anymore." What I recognized, I was modeling something for Daniel and Madison that you got to go after it, you got to get all this stuff. I had the house, but I lost the home. I had success, but I had no significance. I had power, but I had no purpose, and I had money, but I had no meaning.
What I discovered, if I continued to model that behavior for my baby girl, that she would marry a joker like me who ignored her like her dad did. What I recognize is that I had to move from hearing Madison to listening to Madison, because the same letters that spell the word listen spell the word silent. When I have that time with my baby girl, I'm dialing in, "How are you?" And I'm modeling something for her brother as to how he's supposed to treat a woman.
Women don't need us to fix anything, they just want to know are we emotionally available and emotionally dialed in to know where they are. When it is time for you to make a U-turn and shift into your brilliance, we will have to come to a place where we're willing to do the work.
It's not who you are that holds you back from brilliant success, it's who you think you're not that holds you back. Sometimes we focus on who we think we're not instead of who we are. Now, now, through pain from learning that relationships are more important than money.
Military Dad Defends His 4 Little Daughters When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Military Dad of 4 Daughters Defends His Girls When Strangers Make This Rude Remark
Austin von Letkemann is the military officer strangers feel "sorry" for — and the reason is infuriating.
Whenever the devoted father leaves the house with his four children, strangers can't help but notice the officer in uniform is holding hands with 4 adorable little girls. They will tell the traditionally "masculine" and "all American" dad they feel sorry for him, because he has no sons. This dad makes one thing very clear: They are his daughters, they aren't a burden.
In a passionate video, von Letkemann took to Instagram to share with his followers that the only thing that's "difficult" about being a girl dad — is clapping back to these sexist remarks over and over again.
They Mock His Daughters To Their Face
When strangers approach Austin von Letkemann and his four daughters, they don't always realize that their comments are being overheard. They seem oblivious to the fact that his girls understand every word. Von Letkemann describes how people will approach him and, without thinking, make remarks like "I'm sorry" or even joke about his lack of sons. What they don't realize is that these comments, intended to be light-hearted or humorous, can be deeply hurtful to his daughters. These strangers are not just disrespecting von Letkemann's choices as a father; they're also sending a message to his daughters that their presence is something to be pitied. It’s a message that von Letkemann won't stand for, and he's speaking out to defend his girls from these insensitive remarksSaying "Get Your Shotgun" Isn't Funny — It's Sexist
Another common comment that Austin von Letkemann encounters is the old "better get your shotgun ready" trope, often delivered with a smirk or a wink. This line is typically intended to suggest that a father with daughters should be on high alert to protect them from potential "suitors," implying that they are objects to be guarded rather than individuals with agency.
Von Letkemann finds this line of thinking outdated and sexist. In his viral Instagram video, he points out that these jokes are not just stale — they're damaging.
By suggesting that his daughters require armed protection, the joke reinforces the idea that women are inherently vulnerable and need to be shielded from men. Von Letkemann argues that instead of promoting this narrative, society should focus on teaching respect and consent, challenging these sexist tropes at their source.
Watch Austin von Letkemann's Video:
"If I Had A Fifth Child, I'd HOPE It Was A Girl" — One Dad's Message For Other Parents
Despite the constant remarks about his lack of sons, Austin von Letkemann is clear: He wouldn't trade his daughters for anything.
In fact, he told his Instagram followers that if he were to have a fifth child, he would hope for another girl. This declaration isn't just about doubling down on his pride in his family — it's a pointed response to those who see fathering daughters as a misfortune.
Von Letkemann's stance is a powerful one, rejecting the notion that a family is incomplete without sons. He encourages others to question the assumptions behind these comments and to appreciate the joy and fulfillment that his daughters bring. By sharing his story, von Letkemann hopes to create a more inclusive perspective on fatherhood, one that values daughters just as much as sons.