Craig Melvin Drops Shocking Truths About Fatherhood—The Life-Changing Lessons That Completely Transformed His Approach to Parenting that He Believes Will Help Millions of Parents Raising their Children the RIGHT way!

Craig Melvin is opening up about the unexpected lessons fatherhood has taught him, sharing insights that have reshaped his entire approach to being a dad. The Today anchor revealed how parenthood, with its trials and triumphs, has deepened his sense of responsibility, patience, and unconditional love. From navigating his personal life to managing his career, Melvin shared how becoming a father was the turning point that redefined his world. His heartfelt words have left fans reflecting on their own lives and relationships – “You gotta focus on quality over quantity.”

Want to hear what Craig Melvin learned that changed everything? Find out more in the full story below! 👇

Craig Melvin Leans On Anchor Desk

Photo: NBC / Contributor/Getty Images

Columbia, South Carolina native Craig Melvin keeps a busier-than-most schedule, wearing a lot of hats. He’s an anchor on TODAY, he travels around the world at a moment’s notice for breaking news for NBC, he’s written two books–a memoir Pops: Learning to Be a Son and a Father, and a new children’s book, I’m Proud of You, but if you ask Melvin, his most important role is that of dad to Delano and Sybil.

The veteran journalist recently sat down with Southern Living Editor in Chief, Sid Evans for an episode of our podcast, Biscuits & Jam and chatted about his work, his writing, his Southern roots, and fatherhood. When asked about the best advice he’s received on the topic of parenting, Melvin said he’s been fortunate enough to get “a couple of nuggets” of wisdom. The first he mentions came from his colleague at TODAY, Carson Daly.

→ Swipe to see more articles

Related Posts

Tensions Explode on Air: Jessica Tarlov Taken Off Set After Heated Confrontation with Jeanine Pirro!

SHOCKING REVEAL: Tyrus’ Fox News Salary and His Jaw-Dropping Lifestyle—How Does He Afford It All?

Fox News’ Sandra Smith is praised by fans for ‘hitting it out of the park’

Sean Hannity’s Legal Disaster

FINALLY: Kat Timpf Breaks Silence After Cancer Battle and New Baby—Fox News Star Announces Emotional Return Date as Co-Host Cries On Air: “You Can’t Miss This Moment!” Fans Stunned by New Show Lineup with Greg Gutfeld and Jamie Lissow!

EXCLUSIVE: ANGEL REESE ERUPTS ON COURT AFTER CAITLIN CLARK’S SHOCKING FOUL—Explosive Video Shows Reese Nearly RETALIATING as Tensions Erupt in Women’s Basketball’s Most Heated Rivalry Yet

“Years ago we were on a shoot and I was sort of lamenting the fact that at that particular point, I was traveling a lot more than I do now. And I was missing stuff. I was missing soccer games. I was missing ballet and gymnastics meets and all that stuff. I was feeling sort of guilty about it,” Melvin began.

“And, you know, Carson’s got four children, and he said to me, ‘You gotta focus on quality over quantity. And you’ve gotta accept the fact that you’re not gonna be able to be there as often as your wife because you’re working, and the work is important, and you gotta make peace with it, or you’re gonna be guilty for 18 years at least. Focus on quality over quantity.’”

The dad of two explained how he took Daly’s words to heart and put them into practice. “So when I am there, I’m not just physically present, I am emotionally present. I try to make sure my children know that. I’ve also blocked out certain days and activities where, unless something terrible is happening in the world, I’m there. So, for instance, I’ve coached my son’s basketball team for the last three seasons. It’s a mediocre squad, probably a result of the coaching more than anything. But anyway, he enjoys it. I enjoy coaching. I’ve done it for the last three years, and I’ve got a buddy in town, and he’s my assistant coach. And he basically promised me that if I had to travel last minute or do something that he would step in, which he’s done.”

“I block out Wednesday evenings during basketball season so I can always be at practice. And so I carve out that time. And people who work with me, they know that no matter what that’s – I call it dead time. I’m unreachable and untouchable. And I’ve done the same thing with my daughter, although it’s different because she has not demonstrated any interest so far, at least in organized recreational sports.”

Another lesson learned came from someone Melvin interviewed for a series on TODAY called “Dad’s Got This.” As Melvin explained, one of the dads told him, “ As kids get older, a lot of the things that we think they care about, they don’t really care about. And they don’t really remember a lot of the stuff that we think that it’s gonna stay with them forever. They remember, like, looking out from that stage, seeing mom, seeing dad during their play. They remember being at that basketball game and dad,”

Melvin’s voice begins to crack as he says, “God bless, I hate it when I do this,” he laughs through his audible emotions, “When, you know, when dad was the coach, they remember that. And I know they remember that because, you know, for years, one of the biggest issues I had with my dad is he just wasn’t there. He wasn’t physically present. He was at the house, but he wasn’t at the baseball games. He wasn’t at the basketball games.”

He continued, “And it wasn’t until I became a father that I realized, well, dang, he wasn’t there because he was working third shift for almost 40 years at the post office. He slept during the day. Yeah, he drank too much, and sometimes he was passed out, or, you know, up at the corner store. Yeah, that was part of it. But the other part was, he just couldn’t be there because he was working to provide for his family. And until you have that responsibility, you don’t fully appreciate that you kind of have to be there.”