Celebrating Fatherhood: The Reflections of an Experienced Father
June 2026 Newsletter
Name: Pete Cobb
Years as a Father: 33
Number of Children: 10
Hometown: Pewaukee, WI
What does Fatherhood mean to you?
Fatherhood is an amazing opportunity to participate with God and your wife in the creation of a new life and is a great source of lifelong joy.
When I was in High School, I always wanted to be a father and hear someone call me dad. Through the years, I have learned it is more than just hearing the word but great joy and responsibility each time your child calls your name.
How has fatherhood changed your heart?
It has helped me grow in awe and love for the amazement of God and the wonders he does every day and in every situation.
What have you discovered about yourself since becoming a father?
That there is no perfect solution to anything and no matter what I thought, I knew there is always a new challenge and struggle to deal with, but to trust in God and my family and we will get through it.
Tell us about a challenge you’ve experienced or taken on as a father.
We had 7 kids and I started a company. Shortly after starting the company, we found out we were expecting and got sued by the prior employer. We had to lay off all our employees until we worked through the lawsuit, and we were not sure where the revenue would come from. That was a very challenging time, when you have a growing family to provide for and not sure if you are going to be able to.
What was the most important lesson you ever learned from your own father?
To work hard and be honest.
What do you want your children to know about what it means to be a man?
I think to be a man you need to be strong and humble. Strong in the sense of being responsible for the upbringing and life of your children and being there for your wife and children whenever they need you.
Humble in realizing that you need to rely on help from God and others every day and that you will never have all of the answers.
"Although at times the affection of parents for their children can seem fragile and imperfect, the bond of fatherhood and motherhood is in fact so deeply rooted that it makes possible a self-giving without limits." - St. Josemaría Escrivá
Follow His Lead: 4 At-Home Activities To Celebrate Dad
Here are some simple ways to honor fatherhood where it lives best: at home!
There is something sacred about a father's particular way of engaging with his family. He wrestles on the living room floor, he insists on finishing the project together, even when it takes twice as long. He holds ground when it is easier to give in, and shows up steady when life gets hard.
Fatherhood carries a kind of strength that is worth naming, celebrating, and making room for in our homes. This season, consider setting aside intentional time to let dad lead, play, and shine in the ways that come most naturally to him.
Here's four activity ideas to foster memories (and life lessons) that will last for a lifetime!
1. Rough-and-tumble play.
Clear the furniture and let dad set the terms. Pillow fights, wrestling matches, piggyback sprints through the yard: this kind of play is how children learn to trust their bodies and feel safe with someone stronger than they are.
2. Build something together.
A birdhouse, a raised garden bed, a simple shelf for a child's room. Dad leads the plan, assigns the jobs, and everyone earns a stake in the finished product. The thing you build matters less than the work you share.
3. A backyard or park team game.
Capture the flag, kickball, a relay race with made-up rules. Give dad the whistle and let him organize the chaos. This is where his love of strategy and friendly competition becomes a gift for the whole family.
4. A skill-pass afternoon.
Encourage dad to share and teach a skill or repair, from start to finish, for all the kids to learn together! Fathers are exceptionally gifted as passing on practical skills and life know-how. Maybe it's changing a tire, sharpening a knife, cutting wood, or basic knot tying.
The heart of a father is strong. One of the finest things we can do for the men we love is to make space for that strength to be seen, celebrated, and received with gratitude.
