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Today’s guest is Anthony Woolever. He is a dad raising six kids, including five daughters across a nearly 20-year age span. He’s navigating a blended family, teenage years, and even life with a newborn all at the same time.
In this episode, Anthony shares what it really looks like to be a present, intentional father in a complicated world.
First, you’ll hear how becoming a girl dad softened him and reshaped the way he approaches parenting, especially after a disciplined military background.
Second, Anthony explains why critical thinking is one of the most important skills dads can teach their daughters today. Dads don’t need to teach their daughters what to think, but how to think.
Third, we talk about independence, including how he lets his daughters make decisions, negotiate real-life situations, and even learn from mistakes while he serves as a safety net.
Finally, Anthony opens up about the power of simply saying “I love you” every day, especially in a blended family where those words can make all the difference.
This is a practical, honest conversation about raising strong, confident daughters in today’s world. Anthony brings a lot of hard-earned wisdom to the table as a dad of daughters.
One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is the importance of showing up consistently.
He said being a dad doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes it’s as simple as asking about your daughter’s day and truly listening.
He also emphasized encouraging curiosity, asking questions, and helping daughters to develop critical thinking skills prepares them for real life far better than trying to control every outcome.
Another powerful lesson is letting daughters experience independence while still providing guidance.
Anthony talked about giving them “just enough rope” to learn from their decisions while making sure they understand any consequences before they make them.
Most importantly, he reinforced the value of expressing love. Saying “I love you” by showing it through actions, words, and taking an interest in what matters to your daughters builds confidence and strengthens your relationship over time.
If you want to connect with Anthony, you can find him on Facebook and Instagram. He also has a website at anthonywoolever.com, which he’s continuing to develop.
I am the father of three now-grown young women with families of their own. A native of Wisconsin, I now live in Arizona, but enjoy visiting my eight grandchildren whenever I can.
