Brilliant dad feature week 9
Our brilliant dad feature this week is Mike from Maryland in the USA. He has three children. His eldest a girl, the middle child a boy and his youngest a girl. He blogs at http://www.onemoredadblog.com.
1. Have you always wanted to be dad?
I didn’t always want to be a dad. It’s not that I don’t know how babies are made, but the first was a surprise. I wouldn’t have it any other way because my kids are super cool.
2. How did you feel when your children were born?
How’s this for a cliche? Creed’s song Arms Wide Open was playing when I got the call about my daughter coming. I was young and overwhelmed, but very excited. The excitement grew with each child. I know I still felt unprepared as each child was born. Each child is a new life that will be completely different from the previous and that’s a lot to take in.
3. What have been the most rewarding experiences so far?
Just hearing “I Love You” from my kids no matter what is going on is easily the most rewarding experience, but also watching as you see lessons you have taught them in action without me prompting them when they share or help or are kind to someone else and growing into good people.
4. What are some of the funniest moments to have happened to you as a dad?
My kids crack me up on a daily basis, but recently I cut my hand and it was all wrapped up. My four year old asked “will it get better? I said “it will soon” her response was “good because you can’t be living like this”. I laughed
pretty hard at that one.
pretty hard at that one.
When
my daughter was born I remember I got to cut the umbilical cord,
after it was cut and my wife was surrounded by friends and family
holding our daughter I sneaked into the bathroom and noticed I had a bit
of cord on my finger (like a booger). I was weirded out and
started trying to shake it off. The door had cracked open and by the
time I was done flailing I noticed everyone had seen me frantically
trying to get it off my finger. They were all laughing at me…that’s
when I knew being a dad would be filled with a lot of funny moments.
my daughter was born I remember I got to cut the umbilical cord,
after it was cut and my wife was surrounded by friends and family
holding our daughter I sneaked into the bathroom and noticed I had a bit
of cord on my finger (like a booger). I was weirded out and
started trying to shake it off. The door had cracked open and by the
time I was done flailing I noticed everyone had seen me frantically
trying to get it off my finger. They were all laughing at me…that’s
when I knew being a dad would be filled with a lot of funny moments.
5. Have there been any situations with your children that you found
difficult to cope with?
difficult to cope with?
I
think bullying is always a hard topic. Because you want to make sure
your child is not a bully, but also not being bullied. There is
a fine line that comes along with fighting back and standing up for
yourself versus just fighting. All of the bullying lessons say
to “walk away” but if you are getting beat up, it makes
walking away difficult. I don’t want my kids throwing
punches every time they feel they need to stand up for themselves. This is one that we have to approach as it comes.
think bullying is always a hard topic. Because you want to make sure
your child is not a bully, but also not being bullied. There is
a fine line that comes along with fighting back and standing up for
yourself versus just fighting. All of the bullying lessons say
to “walk away” but if you are getting beat up, it makes
walking away difficult. I don’t want my kids throwing
punches every time they feel they need to stand up for themselves. This is one that we have to approach as it comes.
6. What are your dreams and hopes for your children?
At
the risk of sounding selfish, my hopes and dreams are that my wife
and I would have demonstrated to them and raised them well enough to
be prepared for the real world. That they will know that we will give
them support in whatever path they choose in life. I absolutely want
them to be successful in their academic pursuits and careers. I want
them to be loving caring people and excellent contributing members of
the adult world. I just want them to be happy!
the risk of sounding selfish, my hopes and dreams are that my wife
and I would have demonstrated to them and raised them well enough to
be prepared for the real world. That they will know that we will give
them support in whatever path they choose in life. I absolutely want
them to be successful in their academic pursuits and careers. I want
them to be loving caring people and excellent contributing members of
the adult world. I just want them to be happy!
