A Father-Daughter Trip to Paris: Creating Core Memories, Lost Passports, and Life Lessons on The Front Stoop

In this heartfelt episode of The Front Stoop Podcast, host Tom Barnas reflects on a promise he made a decade ago — to take his daughter to Paris when she turned sixteen. Now in 2025, Tom fulfills that promise, sharing the laughter, lessons, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences they shared together in the City of Light.

From strolling along the Champs-Élysées and marveling at the Eiffel Tower to savoring steak frites at cozy cafés and exploring the Louvre, Tom captures what it’s like to see Paris through both a father’s and a teenager’s eyes. Along the way, he opens up about the challenges of balancing parental expectations with letting his daughter experience the world her own way — even when her reactions weren’t what he anticipated.

The story takes an unexpected turn when Tom and his daughter are detained by ICE upon returning to the U.S., turning their dream trip into a lesson about patience, privilege, and perspective. In the end, Tom shares a deeply human reflection on parenting, travel, and the fleeting beauty of shared moments.

It’s a personal, funny, and emotional travel story — all told by a dad who loves his daughter.

For more Stories From The 78, follow @tombarnas78 on Instagram and @storiesfromthe78 on TikTok.