Barrington Francis is one fulfilled man. It was a joy for him when he met the love of his life Arlene and he thought he could not be any happier – until his two sons were born Barry Jr and Tyler.
Reflecting on his fatherhood journey, Francis said it was one of the most rewarding feelings knowing he was now responsible for someone else.
Aware that he and his wife were charged with nurturing, molding, and seeing them grow and thrive under their guidance and love was something he can only describe as “incomparable, and rewarding.”
Fatherhood is undoubtedly challenging, and running a business meant working with his wife, so together, they created a support system as they navigated and prioritised ensuring their boys had all the attention, love, and support needed.
His sons both graduated with honours from high school and received scholarships to attend college. Tyler is now in his final year of college while Barry Jr is now heading to Philadelphia College of Medicine on a medical scholarship.
Barry could not be more proud as he sees it as the investment in standing there as a father working together with his wife to ensure they were not divided be it in discipline or being firm when it was needed.
A firm believer in God, Barry did not hesitate in passing on these principles and ideals to his children. Among the values he has instilled in them is to be respectful, work hard, be disciplined and at the top is loyalty.
As a father, there are times when you have to make hard decisions, but Barry is grateful for his wife who supported him when he made the decision to stop his children from doing sports for an entire year.
“They were not happy about that since they each competed at a high level in three different sports. However, I had to make the decision as their dad and not their friend,” he shared with Freedom Come Rain.
Expounding on the reason behind his decision, Barry said they were just spent. “We had to focus more on developing the business. They played baseball, basketball, and football and were never on the same team because of the age difference. It was very demanding with practices and games 5-7 times a week! Once Barry started to drive, they were able to resume sports,” he informed.
Despite a hectic schedule, Barry tried to be present and stay involved in his children’s lives for most of their activities. He engaged them in conversations on a regular basis, assuring them that although he couldn’t be there for everything, they still very much had his support.
With the boys now grown, Barry allows himself to reflect on how being a father impacted his perspective and career ambition.
“Being a father has allowed me the chance to have a shift and place God first, family second, and work afterwards,” he informed.
Family time remains a cornerstone of the Francis’ routine as he shared that they enjoy watching sports together and having family dinners at least twice a week.
“These moments strengthen our bond and create lasting memories. Personally, I also take time to walk and reflect 3-4 times a week, maintaining a sense of discipline and consistency in my life.”
For other fathers who might still have difficulty navigating the journey, Barry offered his advice.
“Discipline is essential in everything you do. It’s not easy, but staying consistent and intentional yields positive results. The most significant aspect of fatherhood is the values and morals you instill in your children. These lessons will guide them throughout their lives, shaping them into responsible, respectful, and hardworking individuals,” he shared.
And if he should sum up the most important thing as a father, Barry said simply it is the values and morals that you pass on to your children.