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Home › Dad of the Month

Peter Nassos

By Melinda Copp

Each month, iParenting.com spotlights a father who inspires and moves us, who embodies the qualities that we all admire in a person, a man and a father. Above all, the Dad of the Month is dedicated to his children. Rich or poor, famous or not, he shines as an example of what fathering is all about.

How many times have you heard your child start a sentence with the two words "I can't"? This phrase is a popular favorite among kids of all ages, usually when they're whining about something. And even adults can fall into the "I can't" habit. But at the Nassos house, this phrase is off limits.

When his stepson, Cody, who is now 7 1/2 years old, first uttered "I can't," Peter Nassos realized that those words wouldn't work in their house. "As soon as my oldest son could say it, it was banned," says Nassos, who lives in Cave Creek, Ariz., with his wife, Richelle, and their two sons, Cody and Luke, 1 1/2. This family prefers to maintain a more solution-oriented "reach for the stars" attitude rather than focus on a situation's obstacles.

"'I can't' has been forbidden for a couple of years now," Nassos says. In fact, "reach for the stars" is the most important lesson Nassos hopes his sons gain from his example. But for this Chicago native, reaching for the stars doesn't mean a high-power corporate job. Everything Nassos needs to fulfill his dreams is right at home.

Family Owned and Operated
Nassos had a career in the wireless technology industry, and Richelle was a head hunter and immigration office manager. But neither one was satisfied in corporate America. "We weren't happy, and we wanted to work for ourselves," Nassos says.

In 2004, the couple started their own business. But family businesses, although they can be extremely rewarding, are never easy to manage. And like every parent faced with a major career change, Nassos had his concerns. He feels that one of the biggest challenges of being a dad is wondering how this and other decisions will impact his family in the long run.

"Every decision, financial or otherwise, can make a big difference in a child's path in life," Nassos says. "Wondering if I made the right decisions for the welfare of my family is challenging."

Their business, me4kidz, was inspired by their son, Cody. When he was 3 years old, he was stung by a bee while playing outside and had a reaction to the sting. Cody panicked, and so did his mom, who wasn't prepared to handle an emergency away from home.

"My wife panicked and couldn't figure out what to do," Nassos says. "Not only did my wife panic, but in general kids are scared of first aid and parents are unprepared."

An Award-winning Product

The Medibag by me4kidz won a coveted iParenting Media Award. Learn more here!

This incident prompted Richelle to look for a solution. When she didn't find the right first-aid kit available in the marketplace, they decided to create their own kid-friendly kit that contained everything parents would need to handle everyday bumps, bruises and stings.

Making a Dream Reality
The couple started holding research groups, getting feedback from all different demographics, built their own tool, hired patent attorneys and spent their savings. They gave up their careers and jumped right in. Me4kidz stands for "medical emergencies for kids," and they brought their product to the market in May of 2006.

Now that the business is up and running, Nassos always takes a back seat without hesitation, according to Richelle. "I find that truly humbling," she says. "Kind of like the secretary that works for the CEO and the nurse that does all the work before the doctor arrives to deliver the baby – we all know who does all the work, right?"

Richelle handles all the sales, marketing, Web site and accounting aspects of the business. And Nassos handles all the back end tasks, such as ordering supplies, warehouse and inventory. He makes the supply chain work, Richelle says.

"Although we are a 'woman-owned' company, we are family operated," Richelle says. "This means without Peter, we could not do this and be as successful as we have thus far."

Dad of Duty
Although Nassos' role in the day-to-day functions isn't as visible as his wife's, he does carry his share of the burdens and challenges of running a business. He also plays an important role in raising the kids. He takes on his share of the baby duties, such as night feedings and diaper changes. Plus he coaches his oldest son's sports teams, reads bedtime stories and makes sure everyone's prayers have been said.

"There isn't a moment that Peter isn't there," Richelle says. "Most people consider it the mom's job to be with the kids – let me tell you, every man should go to the 'Nassos School' of helping out Mom with the kids because Peter has it down pat."

When the Nassos family isn't busy with the business and other daily demands, they like to spend time having fun together at the park, playing mini golf, playing board games and cards and riding bikes. And whenever they can, the couple squeeze in date nights away from the kids.

"Peter is Greek and in Greek, 'Peter' means 'rock,'" Richelle says. "He truly is the rock, not only for me, but also for our children."



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