Franky Returns: Fatherhood, Fear, and Finding Strength

Almost two years ago, Franky sat down with me for a deeply personal conversation about navigating life as a dad to a child with special needs. Now, he’s back—and a lot has changed.

In this follow-up episode, we pick up where we left off, diving even deeper into what it means to grow through fatherhood, not just as a parent, but as a man trying to hold everything together. Franky opens up about earning a cybersecurity certification with no previous IT background, balancing the pressures of work and home, and the role his wife’s support has played in helping him keep moving forward.

We talk about the emotional toll of caregiving, the quiet guilt and burnout that can build up over time, and the fear many special needs parents carry but rarely talk about: What happens when we’re no longer able to care for our children?

This is a conversation about resilience, identity, and learning to show up even when we feel like we’re running on empty. It’s real, unfiltered, and full of insight for any parent navigating the complex, ever-changing journey of raising a child with additional needs.

This episode is probably brought to you by ‘It Takes a Village NC

https://www.ittakesavillagenc.com

Franky’s podcast - The unfortunate privilege podcast

https://open.spotify.com/show/7meEuAT7apvoxsCZWmqiXF?si=qEXH0kloSp-1PGjbHRIzug