Startup Dad

Parenting Through Projectile Vomit | Mike Rome (Dad of 3, moonwater)

Mar 19, 2026
Guest
Mike Rome
Mike Rome, founder of moonwater and father of three, blends startup grit with parenting reality. He talks about launching a company later in life, designing real schedule flexibility, and building through his son’s heart crisis. He shares using startup frameworks for parenting, choosing presence over proximity, and the chaotic comedy of parenting moments like a projectile-vomit dinner.
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ADVICE

Give Your Startup A Fair Run

  • If you start a company, commit long enough to learn whether it truly works; avoid half-hearted, short tests that leave ambiguity.
  • Mike recommends extending the test beyond six months when possible so you can know if it truly fails or needs more time.
ANECDOTE

Building A Business Through A Child's Heart Crisis

  • Mike's son Gavin had a rare fetal arrhythmia that required medication, repeated hospital stays, and ultimately an ablation that restored him to normal.
  • The crisis forced Kate to stop working, created night medication routines, and later strengthened Mike and Kate's relationship and perspective on priorities.
ADVICE

Expect Problems As The Day One Default

  • Expect hard days and treat problems as the core work of business and parenting so you stop being surprised and can respond calmly.
  • Mike reframed both starting a company and managing Gavin's care as problem-solving tasks that become manageable once difficulty is expected.
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