Modest Conversations - The Information 13 - How You Build Meaningful Relationships with Kids and Others - Tod Francis, Shasta Ventures
May 29, 2017
Tod Francis, founding partner at Shasta Ventures and avid outdoorsman, discusses building meaningful relationships with children and others. He contrasts routine logistical parenting with side-by-side, exploratory activities. He highlights how shared adventures and vulnerability create lasting memories and offers practical ways to prioritize those horizontal experiences.
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Ops Versus Shared Experiences
- Tod Francis realized parents spend 98% of time on logistics and ops, which is necessary but not where deep relationships form.
- The memorable moments come from stepping out of vertical roles into shared, horizontal experiences.
Prioritize Horizontal Activities
- Do create horizontal experiences by learning or exploring something new together so both people are equal participants.
- Small, low-commitment activities like a train trip or trying a new restaurant can produce the same value as big adventures.
Learning Kiteboarding Together
- Tod learned kiteboarding with his younger son where neither knew anything and they bonded through equal experience and shared learning.
- He also learned backcountry skiing with his older son, emphasizing learning together rather than being the expert.