My son-in-law and I bonded going through Dad Academy together

Robert Arevalos

Arevalos Family (Robert far right) | Apex NC

When I became a father, I felt completely unprepared. I was married at 21, and two years later we had our first child. I was still trying to learn what it meant to be a husband, and suddenly I was responsible for raising a child. I knew the kind of father I didn’t want to be, but I had no clear picture of the father God was calling me to become. Without direction, I ended up parenting out of fear. That fear turned into strict discipline, and I often felt like I was failing. I didn’t have the tools, resources, or confidence I needed.

I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home with parents who loved the Lord and served Him faithfully. We were in church every Sunday, and every Wednesday evening we were at midweek Bible study. Those rhythms shaped my early understanding of faith. But even with that foundation, my childhood was often marked by fear and loneliness. My mom worked swing shift at a nursing home, and my dad was usually out ministering somewhere. My sister and I learned to fend for ourselves. I never realized how much it would affect me, not having my parents around, especially my dad.

By God’s grace, my kids all serve the Lord today and are raising their own godly families. I’m incredibly thankful for that. But looking back, parenting didn’t need to be as hard as it was — for me or for them. I simply didn’t have a plan.

When my son-in-law asked about Dad Academy, I decided to take it with him because I didn’t want him to struggle the way I did. I wanted him to start fatherhood with clarity and confidence. What I didn’t expect was how much I would grow. Dad Academy helped both of us understand what it means to instill character, competency, and confidence in our kids and grandkids. It taught us how to pass on skills, values, and legacy. We learned the importance of creating meaningful memories, being intentional, and leading our families with purpose.

Going through Dad Academy together bonded us as father and son. It gave us a shared language and a shared mission for our families. Dad Academy has been a life-changing investment — one that will impact generations in our family.