dad next door
Dan Gilmer
Occupation: Director of Clinical Outreach for T&R Recovery Group Wife: Kristen Children: Jax, 12; Vanessa, 4; Logan, 2; and Keller, 6 months Hobbies: Golfing, hunting, archery, and being outdoors
BY AMANDA MILLER | PHOTO BY BUTTERFLIES OF HOPE PHOTOGRAPHY
D an Gilmer is a father of four who lives in Baton Rouge with his wife, Kristen. His family life is grounded in faith, intentionality, and a strong sense of partnership at home. Whether navigating a demanding work schedule or carving out time for family traditions, he prioritizes being present with his wife and kids and creating a home centered on service, gratitude, and connection.
DAN: I don’t really have many typical days. My mornings usually start early. I’ll either wake up at 5:30 to work out, or if I was up the night before feeding a baby, I’ll sleep in a bit and then get my 12-year-old off to school, help the other kids get ready, and start my day. From there, I’ll either stay home and do meetings or travel to other parts of the state, or sometimes catch a flight and be out of town for a few days. It really depends on the season. Some weeks I’ll stack my meetings Monday through Thursday so I can take a Friday morning or Saturday to go hunting with one or two of my kids. I do travel quite a bit. When I’m home, I’m 100 percent present with my family. And when I travel, I focus on getting my work done so I can get back home as soon as possible. WHAT’S BEEN THE MOST REWARDING PART OF BEING A DAD? DAN: The most rewarding part of being a dad is definitely hearing from my kids how much it all means to them. For example, when my daughter turned four, we took her to get a pedicure and manicure, then to Barnes & Noble to pick out a gift, and finished the day with dinner at California Pizza Kitchen. As we left, she said, “This is the best day ever.”Then on the way to dinner, she said, “I can’t wait to go to dinner with my mommy and daddy.” It’s moments like that. It’s the way my two- year-old hugs me. It’s hearing my 12-year-old
having playdates with my friends’ kids. It’s really heartwarming. My favorite part is my kids having some of the same experiences I had because I had a really good childhood.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A DAD?
DAN: I am very loving and very fun. With my boys, I am very much the disciplinarian, but with my daughter, I am not a very good disciplinarian. I think it’s really important to have simple rules for your kids to live by. Within those, they have a lot of freedom. They can be who they want to be and pursue what they want to do, but there are a few core expectations in place. We treat others how we would like to be treated, we use our manners, and we follow through on what we say we’re going to do. SHAPED YOUR PARENTING PHILOSOPHY. DAN: I’m a good parent as part of a team. My wife is truly the head of our household. She’s the captain of our ship. A lot of what works in our family works because of her leadership, consistency, and care. Honestly, we wouldn’t have four kids without her. She’s the foundation that allows everything else to function. TELL ME ABOUT YOUR WIFE AND HOW SHE HAS
TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY. DAN: I am in recovery and recently
celebrated 11 years of sobriety. I am a man of faith and a Christian. My family and I attend church regularly, usually on Sundays. My wife was raised Baptist, and I was raised Catholic. We attend both Catholic and Baptist services at different times. We also attend Healing Place when we are not at either of those churches. WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT RAISING A FAMILY IN BATON ROUGE? DAN: There’s a lot of nostalgia. I grew up across from City Park Golf Course in Baton Rouge. Both of my parents worked at LSU, and I have two older brothers. We all attended U-High and then LSU. Mid City, in particular, holds a lot of nostalgia for me. I enjoy being able to bring my kids to the same parks I went to growing up and introduce them to those places, as well as
WHAT DOES A TYPICAL DAY LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?
14 JUNE 2026 | BRPARENTS.COM
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