An interview with a dad on sabbatical
What Frank Lee learned from his dad, Mrs. Doubtfire, and some hard-earned time off
I met Frank Lee more than 10 years ago when we were both working on startups in Boston. At his company, Bevi, Frank led various commercial and technical functions, including marketing, engineering, manufacturing, and operations. After a decade of hard work, he’s stepped away from day-to-day activities, taking a sabbatical and shaping his next venture in the space sector. Time off from work doesn’t necessarily mean time off from family so I checked in with Frank to see how he’s spending his time these days.
Dad Mag: Hey Frank, tell us where you’re taking these questions today.
Frank Lee: I’m under blankets on our living room couch in San Francisco, taking advantage of some down time before picking the girls up from summer camp. The TV is playing a soccer match with the volume low.
How long have you been a dad?
We launched our portfolio in 2016. Zoe is 8 and Maddie is 6. Diversification is a myth.
What was your last dad-related Google search?
How to fix a child car seat that won’t close…
You have multiple engineering degrees from some of the best universities in the world. Tell us about the lego set / dollhouse / piece of furniture that really humbled you.
My wife’s dad and I had to assemble our girls’ bunk bed with built-in stairs. It was an eight-hour endeavor. We lost a lot of good men out there that day…
You spent a good part of your career co-founding Bevi, and now you're taking some time off to pursue personal interests and spend time with your girls. Do you find having more free time makes you a better dad?
I do find myself having a much higher level of patience. My girls are great, but I still get tested from time to time. For example, when I’m trying to save my family’s lives from terrible drivers and I get a song request from the backseat that requires a complicated Spotify search.
Taylor Swift would be proud. Are there things you can do now with your girls that you weren't able to 5 years ago?
I try to spend a good amount of time volunteering at the girls’ elementary school—field trips, classroom helper, morning exercises, etc. It’s been really fun observing Zoe and Maddie in the classroom setting. I get to see how they interact with their teachers and other kids. The kids know me as Mr. Frank, and I make it my mission to reuse this name tag sticker as many times as possible.
Have you learned anything during this time off that's given you a greater appreciation for your partner?
Definitely. Growing up, my parents were busy running their own manufacturing company in Taiwan. And they did their best with the little time they had with my sister and me. That shaped my perception of parenting. From a career standpoint, I always had a specific career path in my mind that led me to meeting my co-founders to launch Bevi. When it came to parenting, I honestly didn’t have a clear vision.
Meeting my wife literally changed my life. The girls are very much at the center of my existence. I’ve also been inspired by my wife’s parents, who have been very involved with their grandkids.
Do you ever find yourself doing anything that reminds you of your own father? How has your relationship with him influenced the way you parent?
My father was super strict with us growing up. At times, I asked myself why he was so hard on me. Since becoming a parent myself, I’ve learned to appreciate my dad more as I realized my parents just didn’t have as many opportunities for face time as we do.
It took a while, but I’ve come to realize my dad was just trying to be efficient. He had a limited amount of time to teach us how to conduct ourselves as decent human beings. He did his best with the best intentions. And I really respect that.
With my kids, I try my best to lead by example. Especially with two girls, I try to be self-aware of how I act as a partner to my wife, hoping that my girls know to expect the same for their future partners.
Who’s your most memorable dad from pop culture?
Robin Williams from Mrs. Doubtfire. He’s a flawed dad with so much love for his kids who does his best with what he has.
If there was a Dad Olympics, what event would you compete in?
I really love learning, and I enjoy learning about the things my kids love. There should be a Dad Olympics event where you try to study two chapters ahead before your kids on any topic where you had no previous knowledge.
What’s one good piece of advice you'd give this new father?
They grow up too fast. Hold them tight every day because there will come a day when they don’t want to nap with you any more.
