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The wife is the greatest source of growth. I trust my wife and if she tells me I need to be kinder, slower, more active with my kids then I usually listen.
Ryan Stevens asked a few of his colleagues and their wives to join us and see what makes a good AT Dad…and what does not.
How did you meet?
Dave and Annie McCune – Annie was a PA and took a sports medicine course at Rutgers where she met Dave. They waited until she finished her rotation to start dating of course
Kevin & Kim Briles – Kim was coaching at the same school and came in to ask why her kids did not have water setup.
Kevin Blew up on her, set her straight about the role of the Athletic Trainer, and then the rest was history.
Sarah and Jeremy – We were at a college dance with other people and kept checking each other out. We started hanging out after that and now almost 16 years and 3+ kids later we are here.
Ryan and Jamie met in an AOL chat room, stayed in touch and 15 years and 4 kids later
What does your life look like now?
Annie –
Craziness –
We just moved back for Dave’s job at Rutgers.
I was doing door dash
Staying home with their son
Dave has to be at school early for testing
One 6 year old together
Dave was living in a dorm for a little while when he was transitioning jobs.
Was able to come back to Virginia during COVID
- Kim
Ships passing in the night
We kind of have opposite schedules
15/17/20-year-old kids
We have a son that hasn’t left his pajamas in 10 months
It is a good crazy, we are used to it.
- Jeremy, what about your wife Sarah?
Sarah is a stay at home mom and works part-time at the church. She is the primary caregiver to our kids both biological and foster.
3 boys under the age of 10 and a foster daughter under 1
- Ryan and Jaime
Wife stays home with the 4 young kids
Ryan says “I could not make it without her.”
Paint a picture of the relationship you have with your children now.
Briles: the wife gets up at 4:30 to get the kids to daycare on time.
Kids ride the bus home
We had to orchestrate the entire fall season of who was picking the kids up from school. We had grandparents and family that we trusted.
We use to take them to school and the teams would automatically babysit for us
There was a time I needed a break. It was Christmas time, we were supposed to go to this event – I told Kevin “Get everyone out of this house and do not come back until I tell you”
Kevin called the wife a few times to see if he had permission to come home.
McCune: I used to take them to school with me all the time pre-COVID
Annie says she needs that time alone. As the mom and the wife everyone needs something and she just needs some time alone.
If it was written on the wall, what would be your mission statement for your family?
- Jackson Family: To raise Men (and maybe women) who honor God and positively impact the world around them.
- Briles Family:
- Driven
- Compassionate
- Kind
- McCune Family:
- Be relaxed in the situation
- Trust
- Always be kind to everyone you meet
- Stevens Family:
- You will be loved and you will love
“Keep Doing / Stop doing /Start Doing”
One key to successfully maintaining your family dynamic?
McCune – spend time together when we are off
Briles – just be quiet & Say yes more to friends and family
Jackson/ Stevens – prioritize family
What will you “STOP” doing which may lead to more stress upon the family?
McCune – stop trying to help when I get home
Briles – stop saying yes to everything
Jackson – The wife says I need to STOP being on my phone during the evenings
What do you hope to start doing/do more of moving forward to further build your family?
McCune – more fun things as a family
Briles – make the remaining moments count
Jackson – I apparently need to start listening more as I can not remember what the wife told me
Funny Stories?
Briles – Kim was pregnant with Liz, our first, we were warming up for the varsity football game.
I was in the old school locker and I got a message on my beeper…911
That was the code for it is time
I sprinted out and knocked over two band members trying to get the keys and get to the hospital.
Meanwhile the wife was headed to the hospital where she waited 8 hours for the baby to come.
Jackson: Sarah was having a rough day and my oldest decided to shoot at me with the nerf gun. So we had a battle that later turned into a shooting alley as we laid on the floor and shot nerf guns at the 2 youngest boys while they walked back and forth trying not to get hit.
Leave us with one action step:
Dave and Annie – focus on your relationship with your spouse
Kim – you get to going through the motions but these conversations remind us to focus
Kevin – put the phone down
Jeremy – Date Your Wife
Ryan – invest in yourself
Resources from AT Dads 3 – The Wife:
Watch AT Dads 3 on Facebook
Contact Us:
Dave – @RUTrainerMcCune @RUAthletics
Kevin – @kbriles @ATSNJ
Ryan – @CatalyzingATs
Jeremy – @MrJeremyJackson
These people LOVE Athletic Trainers and help support the podcast:
Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.
Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)
HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST
MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.
Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.
Frio Hydration – Superior Hydration products.
Donate and get some swag (like Patreon but for the school)
HOIST – No matter your reason for dehydration DRINK HOIST
MedBridge Education – Use “TheSMB” to save some, be entered in a drawing for a second year free, and support the podcast.
Marc Pro – Use “THESMB” to recover better.
