Hello from the East Coast!
Sharing your story publicly always comes with a mix of vulnerability and purpose. I’m grateful to be welcomed into The Modern Dad community as a guest blogger, because this space reflects many of the values that shape my life: family, growth, and intentional living.
Before I share lessons from fatherhood, education, and everyday life, I want to begin with where I come from—and why these roles matter so deeply to me.
This is my story.
Who I Am
First and foremost, I am a husband and a daddy. Everything else in my life flows from those two roles. I strive to show up with presence, patience, and honesty—especially when life feels complicated.
I’m also someone who believes deeply in reflection, emotional awareness, and meaningful connection. Whether in my home, my classroom, or my community, I’ve learned that growth begins when we are willing to be real about both our struggles and our strengths.
My Path to Fatherhood: Through Surrogacy
My journey into fatherhood did not follow a traditional script. My husband and I became parents through surrogacy—a path that carried both profound heartbreak and extraordinary hope.
Our first attempt ended in an ectopic pregnancy. Our second brought us unimaginable love and loss when we lost our son in the second trimester. By the time we reached our final attempt, we carried grief alongside cautious hope. That final journey gave us boy/girl twins, born at just 26 weeks—tiny, fragile, and unbelievably strong.
Surrogacy taught me that becoming a parent is not something that simply happens; it is something you choose again and again, even when the road is uncertain.
What this journey taught me about fatherhood:
- Family is created through love, not a single blueprint
- Gratitude changes how you experience every moment
- Parenthood is rooted in commitment, not convenience
- Choosing hope after loss is an act of courage
My Education and Professional Path
Education has always been more than a career for me—it has been a calling.
My academic background and ongoing professional development prepared me not just to teach content, but to understand students as whole people. I’ve learned how essential emotional safety, trust, and connection are to meaningful learning.
Along the way, I developed a strong foundation in:
- Child development and learning theory
- Social–emotional growth
- Trauma-informed practices
- Data-driven and reflective teaching
Why I Became a Teacher
I didn’t become a teacher because it was easy. I became a teacher because it mattered.
I’ve always believed that adults have the power to change the trajectory of a child’s life—not through perfection, but through consistency, compassion, and belief. Teaching has shown me that progress is rarely linear, and that growth often happens quietly before it becomes visible.
I teach because:
- Every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and capable
- Learning is emotional, not just academic
- One steady adult can change a student’s story
Why Special Education Chose Me
Special education wasn’t just a path I selected—it became a lens through which I understand humanity.
Working with students who learn and communicate differently has reshaped how I define success, resilience, and possibility.
What special education has taught me:
- Progress looks different for every child
- Behavior is communication
- Strengths matter as much as challenges
- Connection always comes before correction
Wearing Another Hat: Small Business Owners
Outside of the classroom and our role as dads, we’re also the owners of Poured by Iazzetti Home, a small business built on creativity, intention, and storytelling.
What started as a creative outlet has grown into something much more meaningful. Through candle-making and hands-on design, we’ve found a way to blend artistry with purpose—creating pieces that mark moments, celebrate connection, and turn everyday spaces into something personal.
Being small business owners has taught us:
- How much care goes into every detail when your name is on the product
- The value of community, collaboration, and supporting local
- That creativity is a form of leadership and service
- How perseverance, patience, and adaptability shape success
Running Poured by Iazzetti Home isn’t just about what we create—it’s about why we create. It’s another way we show up for our family, model entrepreneurship for our children, and build something rooted in intention and heart.
Why I’m Grateful to Share This Here
I look forward to sharing honest conversations about everything from what it’s like to be a father, to life in the classroom as a teacher, to my experiences as a small business owner—and everything in between.
My hope is that these reflections offer connection, perspective, and encouragement to anyone navigating their own journey with intention and heart.
Thank you for making room for my story.
