October’s Dad of the Month: Bruce, The Man Who Fixes Everything

This month we recognize Bruce, a 33-year-old electrician and EMS volunteer who repairs trains by day and masters fatherhood by night. Real men build and fix

By Your Bro · Sat Oct 31 2020 · Guy Stuff

A man who knows how to keep the power running and the trains moving has a head start on the grit required for fatherhood.

The Man Behind the Tools

Entering Manhood is proud to announce October's Dad of the Month is Bruce @_mr_outside_! A 33-year-old proud papa, he's worked as an electrician his whole career. He started out with residential work, the kind of grind where you're crawling through attics and dealing with other people's DIY disasters. Now, he repairs trains. It is heavy, complex work that keeps the world moving. Bruce loves fixing anything, including people, which is why he started volunteering at his local EMS squad last year. He is the guy you want around when things stop working, whether it is a circuit breaker or a heart beat.

There is a specific kind of mental toughness found in the trades. You can't fake a repair on a locomotive. It either works or it doesn't. Bruce brings that same objective, no-nonsense approach to his role as a father. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for skilled electricians continues to grow because the world falls apart without them. Bruce is applying that essential nature to his household.

The Essential Path to Manhood

Fatherhood to Bruce is probably the most essential part of becoming a man. He doesn't see it as a burden or the end of his freedom. He sees it as the spark for his own evolution. To be successful raising a child requires you to be the man your child needs you to be. Doing that requires self-reflection, growth, and maturity. It is easy to be a tough guy when you're alone. It is much harder to be the steady, calm presence in a room when a toddler is having a meltdown and you have been awake for twenty hours.

Bruce understands that fatherhood isn't just about biologics; it's about the leadership you provide to those under your roof. If you aren't growing, your kids will hit a ceiling before they even get started. Bruce refuses to let that happen. He loves everything about being a father, even down to the dirty diapers. Most guys complain about the mess. Bruce wouldn’t change a single thing about it. He sees the dirty work as part of the contract.

The Light in Their Eyes

His favorite part of being a father is seeing the light in his son’s eyes when he sees him. It’s that feeling that someone is depending on him for literally everything that helps push him further every day. That weight can crush a weak man, but it acts as a gym for the soul of a strong one. When you realize a small human looks at you like you're the smartest, strongest person on earth, you start acting like it. You stop cutting corners. You drive a little slower. You think about your legacy.

A friend of mine once told me that until he had a daughter, he never understood the concept of "unconditional." He was a guy who lived for himself—fast cars, late nights, and zero accountability. The first time she grabbed his thumb in the hospital, his entire internal wiring changed. He stopped looking for the exit and started building the fort. Bruce has that same wiring. He doesn't look at his son as a responsibility; he looks at him as his mission. I previously touched on this in my rules for raising strong sons, where the example you set matters more than the words you say.

Redrawing the Blueprint of Fatherhood

In a culture that often portrays dads as bumbling idiots who can't figure out the laundry, Bruce is a refreshing corrective. He is a professional, a first responder, and a father. He is proving that masculinity is about being a protector and a provider simultaneously. Research from the Pew Research Center shows that modern fathers are more involved in childcare than any previous generation, and the impact on child development is massive. When a dad is present, kids grow up more resilient and confident.

Bruce isn't doing this for the accolades. He's doing it because it's what men do. He fixes what is broken and maintains what is working. Whether it is a commuter train or his son’s sense of security, Bruce is on the job. That is why he is our Dad of the Month. He represents the quiet, hardworking backbone of society that doesn't get enough credit.

Congrats, Bruce! You are our Dad of the Month.

—Your Bro