Thoughts on Your Kid Turning 18, How Time Changes and How to Cope With This as a Dad

Episode 242 - Thoughts on Your Kid Turning 18, How Time Changes and How to Cope With This as a Dad

In this deeply personal episode of Dad Space, host Dave opens 2026 with a reflection that hits every dad square in the heart: by the time your child turns eighteen, you’ve already shared ninety percent of all the in-person time you’ll ever have with them. It’s a sobering truth, but one that sparks an honest and hopeful conversation about presence, priorities, and purpose in fatherhood.

Dave begins by recalling a viral comment from a dad on TikTok whose son just turned fourteen, realizing he’s living through the “final chapters” of his child’s upbringing. The message resonates: the early years that once felt endless now seem fleeting. Between school, work, relationships, and life’s demands, the simple moments families once shared grow harder to schedule—and easier to miss. Dave shares his own family stories, from dirt bike adventures and retreats in rural Ontario to the quiet grief that comes as family gatherings grow more complicated. The memories highlight how time, once taken for granted, becomes the most valuable currency a dad can spend.

From that foundation, the episode moves into practical wisdom. Dave challenges fathers to choose connection over control when kids start asserting independence. Instead of tightening the reins out of fear, he encourages curiosity, trust, and patience—reminding dads that guidance doesn’t mean dominance. When teens begin pulling away, connection thrives when fathers listen without judgment, share activities that create space for conversation, and show unconditional love, even when mistakes happen.

He then explores how to manage career and technology distractions to reclaim real time with family. Modern life pulls attention in every direction, but Dave reminds listeners that presence—not perfection—is the real investment. He advocates for tech-free zones at the dinner table or bedtime, for honoring the “end of work” as an appointment with family, and for changing the language of busyness into one of priority.

Finally, Dave speaks to the emotional evolution of fatherhood: learning to prepare for inevitable transitions while celebrating each new phase. Fatherhood, he says, isn’t static—it’s a journey from caretaker to coach, from counselor to companion. Every milestone, from a first drive to a first apartment, carries a trace of loss and pride intertwined. Acceptance and gratitude, rather than nostalgia, allow dads to keep showing up fully for each moment as it unfolds.

The conversation closes on a hopeful note: dads can’t slow time, but they can fill it with meaning. The challenge is to treat each ordinary day as the gift it truly is—to build a legacy rooted not in possessions or perfection, but in laughter, memories, and love that last long after kids have left home.

Key takeaway: You can’t get those first eighteen years back, but you can make the most of every day you have left. Be intentional, stay present, and remember—your kids may grow up fast, but they’ll carry your love for a lifetime.

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https://dadspace.ca

music provided by Blue Dot Sessions

Song: The Big Ten https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/258270