Whether he shows it through tough love or through tender love and care, we’re serving up some reminders of the special bond between fathers and their kids. We caught up with some local dads who wanted to share some of their most sentimental thoughts on Fatherhood:
“Fatherhood is the opportunity to see your legacy become who you are and improve upon it exponentially” — Frank Roberts, father of one
“I’ve got five kids from 1 to 12 years old. Watching them grow and develop their own personalities is such a blessing. I love each and every one of them, but I love them each in their own way. Being blessed to be able to have my kids is the best part of my life.” —Brandon Robinson, father of five
“Anyone can be a father. It takes understanding, compassion, a whole lot of patience, and sometimes tough love to be a dad.” — Bob Seabock, father of one, grandfather of one
“It’s almost as if you can see yourself growing up in them. Knowing that you’re probably seeing and feeling the same things that your parents once saw and felt as they themselves watched you go through life, makes it so much more special. This is how I believe our children teach us just how precious life is and what life is truly about, which is why no matter how crazy they make you, you wouldn’t trade them for the world.” — Cory Lenig, father of two
“My favorite part is watching the young adults they are becoming and knowing the world will be a better place with their open minds.” — Robert Turkington, father of six
“Growing up, I always remember spending Father’s Day watching the U.S. Open golf tournament with my dad. The final round is always that Sunday, and we’d watch all day. Now that I have kids, I get to spend the day watching the tournament with them.” — Andy Mauk, father of two
“My wife and I just had our first, Mason, back in March. There have been so many times I’ve been holding him, looked down at that adorable face, and have it hit me that I didn’t realize I could love anything so much. I have several friends in the cusp of fatherhood themselves, and I keep telling them … ‘You aren’t ready. Your life will change in the most amazing way. Savor every second of it.’ ” — Nick Smith, father of one
“My father is 85 now, and I’m so lucky to have him still. We live 585 miles apart and that has its own set of issues. He is a person that I hope to become someday, even though that sets the bar extremely high! He instilled values during my youth that make me a better father, grandfather, and a few weeks ago, great grandfather.” Wes Harvey, father of four, grandfather of 11, great grandfather of one
“This year is going to very special for me, it’s been a couple of years since I’ve spent Father’s Day with my kids. They’re normally on vacation around this time. But I’m excited about Father’s Day this year. I will probably do breakfast with the younger two. I will go see my dad also, he’s 92, and we’re really blessed to have him.” — Samuel Newkirk, father of five
“My favorite part about fatherhood is sharing new experiences with my son. He is amazed at things I find routine. The joy he exhibits is contagious and makes simple moments extraordinary.” — Zach Gilbert, father of one
“I’ve learned that being a father is a continuous journey of learning, reflection, and humility. Besides the big stuff involving emotional security and physical safety—there are rarely ‘universally right’ answers. My two kids, Leo and Amelie, are nearly identical in terms of DNA, yet both are motivated by different things, respond to challenges in different ways, and flourish when I find the right balance for each of them between observation and engagement.” — Jess Boersma, father of two
Share your views of fatherhood in either the comments, or to [email protected].
