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.

Our choice for May is Mike Stone, father of two.

Mike Stone's career was eating up too much of his time. During the few hours he spent at home he was balancing the budget and completing countless other duties of a modern homeowner. Tired of the craziness and limited time with his children, he decided to make drastic changes. He quit his job and started over.

Together with his wife, Leslie, he created a list of things he enjoyed doing with his family. The list was long and colorful. As they read it together, Leslie and Mike realized they needed to move to a state that offered plenty of outdoor recreational opportunities.

They went to the library with their children, Jessica and Christopher, and read books about skiing, boating, camping and hiking. After researching several states, Utah became an obvious choice. Within five months he had relocated his family to Park City, Utah.

Rather than allowing his job to lead him across the country with his family in tow, Mike Stone let his desire to spend more time with his children guide his decision. He found a place where they could all live happily together, and then secured a job.

Stone feels fortunate that he and his wife have similar goals and strategies as parents. "Leslie and I have the same feelings towards discipline, manners and how we want to raise our children," he says. "This agreement on core values is definitely part of why we have well-behaved children."

Because of the determination of the Stones, their children often choose spending time with them over other activities. "Our kids would rather be with us than their friends," he says.

Stone feels confident that their efforts will pay off in the future. "If we can create this bond with friendship, respect and values, we have greatly increased our odds for having children that will stay out of trouble and are more likely to succeed in life."

Although Stone has trimmed his work time, he is still busy. He rises at 6:30, heads off to work and returns sometime after 6:30 p.m. Each night before retiring he spends time tucking in the kids, lying beside them and talking until they fall asleep. Although Jessica is 11 she still enjoys the nightly ritual with her father. To make up for his hectic week, during the weekends his children get a hefty share of his attention.

Stone has also allowed his passions to influence his family. "I have always loved motorcycles. Now we ride together as a family." Even Christopher, just 8 years old, has begun competing in motorbike races. "It is a blast to share this part of my life with my kids," he says.

Stone's father died a year ago. Although he had already changed his life in order to be more available for his children, the passing of his father amplified his resolve to be a better parent. "His death has put into perspective how precious our time is," he says. "Once you are gone, you are gone and there is no coming back."

Mike Stone rises each morning in a serene mountain setting and gives thanks for this time in his life. He has a wonderful family, a job that provides well for them and health that allows him to keep up with his children. He learned before it was too late that family is what really matters in life.