The Intentional Dad Building Family Through Adoption, Values, and Vulnerability with Elliott Blodgett

Episode Details

Elliot Blodgett, performance coach and father of two adopted children, shares his unique journey into fatherhood and how intentionality shapes every aspect of his parenting. From creating family value songs to navigating the complexities of raising Black children as a white father, Elliot offers profound insights on letting go of ego, redefining success, and building authentic connections with our kids.

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:01:30] - The Non-Traditional Path to Fatherhood

Elliot shares his adoption journey and letting go of the ego around biological children
Key quote: "I finally lost my ego. My wife was always for adoption. I always thought we would have children of our own if we did. And I stripped that away and said yes to family."

[00:03:13] - Parenting with Intentionality

Discussion on how adoption creates intentional parenting and community choices
Key quote: "The community is by choice. Both of my kids are not white. So we've moved houses, made some intentional financial decisions to make sure that we're in a community where families look like ours."

[00:06:41] - Stripping Away Ego in Fatherhood

How traditional upbringing shaped his ego and how fatherhood transformed his perspective
Key quote: "That ego was really disappearing because it wasn't about me anymore. It was about something so much bigger. It was about my wife and caring for her, it was about my kids and caring for them."

[00:11:26] - Redefining Success for the Next Generation

Moving from results-oriented expectations to exposure and discovery-based parenting
Key quote: "I want my kids to do well, and I put resources towards the opportunities that make the most sense for them... It's just exposure, not necessarily the pressure of be the best at it."

[00:18:05] - Teaching Kids to Do Hard Things

Strategies for helping children push through challenges and build resilience
Key quote: "Hard things are worth doing, and we use that all the time. It is okay to do a hard thing and we have to learn how to do a hard thing because in school and in life, you're going to run into those situations."

[00:29:25] - The Family Values Song

Creative approach to instilling family values through music and storytelling
Key quote: "We have a song. I had a song created... our family value song is something that we play on a regular basis in our house, so they get to hear those things."

[00:32:15] - What Keeps Him Up at Night

Honest discussion about the unique challenges of raising Black children as a white father
Key quote: "My kids will not grow up the same way that I grew up, oblivious to the world around them, and that world around them continues to change and shift and become divided, and I worry about that."

Connect with Jeff Hittner: https://jeffhittner.com

Join me on March 12 for a free, 60-minute live workshop, Winning at Work Without Losing at Home, where you’ll identify your “Default Dad” moments and learn practical tools to become more intentional and present, building the first pillar of a Fatherhood Philosophy that helps you lead at home with the same clarity you bring to work. Register here: https://www.ambitiousdads.com/registration-page

Episode cover art for The Intentional Dad Building Family Through Adoption, Values, and Vulnerability with Elliott Blodgett