Parenting has seasons. Some feel light. Others feel heavy. Brooks Reitz understands both.

Brooks lives in Charleston, South Carolina, where he owns and operates multiple businesses across food, clothing, CPG, and writing. He’s also a husband and a dad to two kids, one six years old and one seventeen, which means he’s parenting in two very different worlds at the same time.

When Childhood Changes

When asked about the hardest part of parenting, Brooks doesn’t point to logistics or schedules. He points to something quieter.

Watching his children lose pieces of their innocence. It shows up when they realize some people suffer for no reason. When teasing happens at school. When the protective varnish of childhood starts to wear thin.

Brooks knows childhood is short, and seeing those shifts reminds him how fleeting it really is.

Leading by Example

The most rewarding part of parenting, for Brooks, is also layered.

He values being an example. Teaching humility, kindness, and manners. Not just saying those things matter, but living them in front of his kids and watching those lessons take root.

That kind of influence isn’t loud. It’s built slowly, over time.

What He Wishes He Knew

One thing Brooks wishes he’d understood sooner is something many parents learn the hard way. Teenagers don’t want to talk to you. Not because you did something wrong, but because they need space to form their own identity.

Letting go, without disengaging, becomes the work.

Advice That Stuck

Brooks became a father at a young age, and not under easy circumstances. During a difficult season, his mom gave him advice that’s stayed with him ever since.

“You’re only one workout away from a good mood.”

It wasn’t parenting advice on the surface, but it became foundational. Taking care of your body matters. Movement creates margin. Many parents would benefit from remembering that.

A Day Built on Rhythm

Brooks’ days run on routine, and that’s by design.

He’s up at 6am for coffee and reading while his wife meditates. Their six-year-old joins them downstairs around 6:45 for snuggles and breakfast. After school drop-off, Brooks heads to the gym, then back home to work.

He runs multiple businesses, mostly from home, working in focused blocks until lunch, which he prepares and eats with his wife. Afternoons bring more work, meetings, or writing. When his wife handles school pickup, Brooks uses that time to reset. A bike ride, a sauna, or a walk.

By late afternoon, the day slows. Family time. Dinner at 5:30. A walk around the block. Bedtime routines. Reading or a show. Lights out by 9.

It’s a schedule that works, and Brooks protects it.

Staying Grounded When Things Get Heavy

Balancing work, life, and family isn’t always smooth. Some seasons feel manageable. Others feel overwhelming. Brooks keeps his footing by returning to what gives him ballast.

Regular exercise. Time outdoors. Home-cooked food, heavy on vegetables and quality protein. Good sleep. Plenty of water. No alcohol. Sunshine and fresh air.

Nothing lasts forever, he reminds himself. Not the easy seasons. Not the hard ones.

Non-Negotiables That Matter

One rule stands firm in the Reitz household. Breakfast and dinner happen at the dining room table, together. No eating separately. No screens. No counter meals.

Those daily touchpoints matter more than they seem. When Brooks gets time alone, he keeps it simple. Long walks and hikes. Museum visits. Reading. Listening to music. Quiet pursuits that refill the tank.

Brooks’ approach to fatherhood isn’t flashy. It’s intentional, rhythmic, and grounded. A reminder that consistency, presence, and shared meals can quietly shape a beautiful life.

You can follow Brooks at @brooksreitz or read his newsletter A Small & Simple Thing on Substack.