What is your name and your children’s names?
 I'm Chris Barker. My son Jai is seven, and my daughter Dara is five.

 

What has surprised you most about being a father?
 How quickly kids change—and how your role evolves with them. In the early years, my main job was just to keep them alive and well. Now they each have distinct personalities and interests, and parenting is more about connection and guidance. Recently, my son asked to tag along while I was out in the field. We ended up having a great time driving around to different rental properties. The conveniently timed appearance of an ice cream truck definitely helped!

 

What do you love most about being a father?
 With my son, it’s coaching his soccer team and scrimmaging with the boys. I didn’t grow up playing or even following soccer, but now it’s become a big part of our lives. That bond—both between us and with the team—is something special.

With my daughter, it’s a whole different vibe. She’s a girly-girl who knows exactly how to tug at my heartstrings. One of my favorite memories is taking her to Disney on Ice. She was all dressed up, and we had front-row seats. Her hugs and kisses are pure joy.

 

What advice would you give to new fathers—or your own children if they become parents someday?
 I’m still early in my parenting journey, but for those with little ones: hang in there—it gets better, and way more fun. Eventually, they’re out of diapers, and you’re having real conversations, playing games, and doing sports together. Also, don’t hesitate to put them to work! Little hands are surprisingly good at folding laundry or counting coins.

 

What is the most valuable lesson you learned from your own father?  From an early age, my father involved me in his professional life as a graphic artist.  We would play a game called "I draw, you draw," taking turns to create a product of our combined imaginations.  He later sparked my interest in cars through his work for Road & Track magazine.  It was valuable for him to share his work, and for me to watch him put in the hours to hone his craft.  Those are practices that I plan to pass on to my children, with my own chosen fields of real estate and law.