When you think of the word “creativity,” what pops into your head? Is it an array of paints splattered on a canvas, a spinning pottery wheel or a stunning photograph? Creativity can mean a variety of things, from artistic expression to problem solving.

For John Skipper, father of one and Prime driver for nearly eight years, creative expression can mean a lot of different things. For him, creativity involves “putting your own little style on life,” having growth and acceptance of new things, personality and a good time. It takes a creative mind to take negative things and make the most out of it, and smile through the worst days.

John and his nine-year-old son, Giovanni, aka Ninja, express their creativity in different ways. Their forms of expression have allowed the father-son pair to stay connected, even while John is working over-the-road. We hope you enjoy some of the ways they express themselves creatively—and that it gets your wheels turning on ways to connect with your own family!

Kindness and creativity go hand-in-hand

“I clown and joke and don’t act my age,” John said with a chuckle. “Being a good dad is the best thing ever. I try to be a positive good role model for my son and for others around me.”

One of John’s biggest goals in life is to be an inspiration to others and set a good example for his son. Use every opportunity to tell a joke or give a compliment, he says, because “you never know what someone’s going through.”

“Encourage your child to smile and be polite,” he continued. “Encourage your child to inspire others and not be a bully, and if you see someone bullying, teach your child to politely stop the situation or to tell somebody.”

Express yourself through your truck

John wanted Ninja’s creative eye to help him design his truck’s exterior. This not only provided a creative outlet for Ninja, but it was also a way for John to connect with his son by having a piece of him be a part of his job.

He allowed Ninja full creative control. Even on choices John was hesitant with, such as the color being a radiant red rather than his usual mocha or champagne colors, he supported him through the process.

John’s home state is Alabama, so he said he wanted something related to the south. Ninja suggested a shark, which John thought was a great idea. He customized the background too, so it’s “one of a kind.”

During the summer, John is able to spend more time with Ninja and pays him for his efforts in maintaining the upkeep of the truck. This is a good opportunity for John to teach Ninja the value of saving money. They discuss together how interest build ups over time.

There are many ways drivers express themselves through their truck, whether it’s string lights during the holiday season or toys on the dashboard. Ninja has a collection of stuffed animals he brings along, and he and his dad have given them each their own names, voices and stories.

There are many creative ways to support a child

John is supportive of his son’s creative expression. He supports Ninja’s YouTube channel and even went so far as to make business cards and fliers to promote his work. Ninja wants to be a fighter pilot someday and join a cadet program when he’s 12. Right now, Ninja is in Jiu-Jitsu (hence the nickname) and competing is in martial arts tournaments.

“I do whatever I can do to support him and his dreams,” John said. “I’m very proud of him.”

John brainstormed several ways over-the-road dads can support their children, including teaching them finances, the power of fun and making friends, and how to be a kid. He also discussed the importance of encouraging the development of your child’s unique personality and gifts—and to share that side of yourself as well.

“If you have the gift of impersonations, money management or driving a big rig, give (your children) anything you have to give them,” he said.

John said that mistakes are going to happen, from both you and your child. If your kiddo does something wrong, there’s no need to make a scene, John says, because mistakes and failure are a part of life.

“Let them stumble and fall while they’re young,” he emphasized. “Don’t wait until they’re older. The faster you give them learning, the better they’ll be in life.”

The life of an over-the-road father involves thinking outside the box

John has always felt like he thinks outside the box as an over-the-road father. If you become fixated on a problem or task, he suggested that you stop and take the time to listen to the guidance of others.

“Take a step back, listen to someone else’s advice or watch YouTube to get different ideas,” he suggested. “I problem-solve a lot; my brain stays focused on making and saving money. I want to help (my son, nieces and nephews) grow and save and teach them that kind of stuff.”

Sometimes you’ll only have a limited time to solve problems that require creative solutions. John joked about fixing things by “John-rigging” it with duct tape and zip ties. When it comes to solving financial problems, he says sometimes that means more cost-effective solutions, such as having “beanies and weenies” for dinner.

“I take whatever readily available tools and use them in a crunch to get whatever I need done,” he said.

Find creative ways to connect with your family

For John, connecting with people isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution because “everyone has different views and opinions.” Of course, there are the standard ways for over-the-road fathers to connect with their families, such as video calls. John enjoys putting a creative spin on his communication.

“Creativity is whatever is at the moment,” he said. “We sometimes do rap battles over the phone, tell jokes and talk about things that interest us. We discuss things that we’re going to do, set up plans and events that are going to go down over the road they can attend.”

John said he’s a big believer in the power of leaving notes around the house whenever you’re at home, and similarly, have family put notes in your truck because it “boosts morale.” John’s son wrote his name on a desk drawer for his dad to find later. Another creative outlet of Ninja’s is origami, so he leaves some in his dad’s truck for him to find later.

“I find things all over the truck,” he said. “For us truck drivers, if everybody had something like that, it would be uplifting to everybody.”

John also connects with his son through video games and playing with the family of stuffed animals mentioned earlier. Find what your child’s interests are and support them through learning more about them and playing along.

Final Words

John encourages over-the-road fathers everywhere to support your children as early as you can, and to be vocal about that support and how proud you are of them.

“If you encourage your child’s positive creativity, I strongly believe that they’ll prosper in the right direction,” he said. “I believe it’s extremely helpful for positive growth. No matter what direction your kid is going, you’ve gotta love your kids.”