Sheboygan-based entrepreneur Tony Knapton is building two businesses, raising three kids, and still finding time for golf and movie nights. His approach to fatherhood is grounded, flexible, and full of perspective — a reminder that being a great dad isn’t about perfection, it’s about presence.
Location: Sheboygan, WI
Kids: Three (ages 6, 4, and 2)
Follow Tony: @tony__knapton
“Ever since having kids, I feel like time goes twice as fast. It’s already hard to balance all aspects of life, and then trying to stay as present as possible at the same time is a challenge.”
Tony Knapton is an entrepreneur, dad of three, and the force behind Radry Golf and White Dot Market. Between school drop-offs, meetings, and bedtime chaos, he’s learning how to build both a business and a legacy at home.
The Hardest Part of Parenting
For Tony, it’s all about time. “Not understanding where the time goes,” he says with a laugh. “Ever since having kids, I feel like time moves twice as fast.” Between running multiple businesses and raising three young kids, staying present is a constant challenge — but one he’s committed to tackling.
The Most Rewarding Part
Despite the chaos, the reward is clear. “Knowing how proud they are that I’m their dad is a pretty special feeling,” he says. That pride, from little voices and wide eyes, keeps him going when the calendar gets packed.
What He Wishes He Knew Before Becoming a Dad
“Everyone talks about the child,” Tony says, “but the dynamic change with your spouse is something I wish I was prepared for.” He’s learned that becoming parents means shifting priorities. “You’re no longer number one for a while, and that’s okay — just keep finding time for each other, no matter how small.”
The Perspective That Stuck
It wasn’t advice as much as perspective. “Empty nesters always say they’d give anything to have fingerprints on the windows and toys everywhere again,” Tony says. “I think about that often.” It’s a reminder that the mess and noise are the good parts — fleeting proof that this season is worth savoring.
A Typical Dad Day
Mornings start early. “We get the kids ready, drop the two older ones at school, and take the youngest to the sitter,” he says. Then it’s a quick gym session before diving into work. Midday means a kindergarten pickup and another sitter handoff before the afternoon sprint. By 4 p.m., it’s time for the round of pickups, dinner, and family wind-down.
“It’s a full day,” Tony laughs. “Who does pickups or mornings depends on who has meetings that day. A bedtime calendar sync with mom is crucial.”
Balancing It All
When it comes to balance, Tony’s honest. “I don’t, to be honest. One of the three is usually taking a back seat at any given time,” he says. “But I’m thankful for having my own business. The flexibility helps a ton.”
For him, fatherhood isn’t about mastering balance — it’s about learning to shift it gracefully.
Staying Grounded
Friday pizza and movie nights are sacred. “They’re pretty ironclad in the schedule,” he says. No meetings, no distractions, just the family and a couch full of kids. It’s the ritual that resets the week.
When He’s Flying Solo
Golf is Tony’s escape hatch. “It knocks a few things off the checklist — friends, nature, competition, exercise,” he says. “A great reset for my mental health.”
It’s his version of therapy, a quiet few hours that keep the rest of life in rhythm.
Final Word
Tony Knapton is proof that fatherhood and entrepreneurship can coexist. His version of balance isn’t perfect, but it’s real — full of love, flexibility, and a few good golf swings.
You can’t slow time down. But you can choose to be there while it’s flying by.
