#dadspotlight Archives - Page 2 of 3

Dads in the Limelight – Adoption Advocate, Author and Dad – Trey Darnell

January 3, 2016 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Our 607th Dad in the Limelight is adoption advocate, author at Gay with Kids and dad Trey Darnell. I want to thank Trey Darnell for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Trey Darnell with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

My name is Trey, and I live in Johnson City, Tennessee. I grew up in East Tennessee and have traveled all over the country with my father and the NHRA Drag Racing circuit when I was a teenager. I now get to travel all over the country as a commercial airline captain. Over the past couple of years, I have found myself in the middle of the push for equality. Some call it advocacy, but I like to refer to it as leading by example. I spend time educating about the LGBT community and same-sex parenting through adoption and open adoption. East Tennessee is lagging with acceptance and understanding of the LGBT community.

2) Tell me about your family

My family consists of a wonderful husband Matthew, a daughter named Harper and two cats and a neurotic standard poodle. In October 2013, Matthew and I married in DC with our two-month-old daughter joining us. Being from the south, we call this a shotgun wedding. The baby before the nuptials. Matthew and I have been together since 2007 after starting a conversation over the west coast hamburger chain In-N-Out Burger. Living on the east coast, very few people know about In-N-Out. Matthew is an exceptional and compassionate Registered Nurse at a local hospital. Not to mention a very creative designer and artist. Harper is 20-months old and is sassy as loving as could be.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

In our situation explaining which one of us is the father of Harper is the most challenging. That is the most tedious thing that we encounter. It is every day. Every question requires us to “come out” and answer the typical follow-up questions or receive the various looks of confusion and then the “oh” when they finally understand. Sometimes we just lie, and one of us says we are the father. We do this in situations where we are in a hurry or feel uncomfortable. Buying a new tv on Mother’s Day weekend last year a gentleman says, “what a lucky lady to get a new tv.” We just nodded.

On a lighter note, merchandise targeting children is out of control. Anything and everything have the characters from Disney’s Frozen on it. Harper will make sure that we know there is sunscreen with Anna on the front or a sucker in the shape of Olaf. It is endless and frustrating. Harper is almost two and is now grounded from everything to do with Frozen.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

Newborns are easy. Schedules are wonderful. Toddlers are challenging. Create time for yourself and your partner. Make sure you allow grandparents and family to have their special moments with your little one. If you can understand and accept that, everything else falls into place. Be present every day. Enjoy every moment. Be involved and stay active. Time accelerates when raising a child and “pumping the brakes” does not work. Ask me again when Harper is a teenager.

5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?

We have heard people say that your life changes drastically after having a baby. It sometimes felt like a form of hazing by people that were already parents. Phrases like “grounded for the next 18 years” and “your life is gone as you know it” was very common. You will not sleep ever again was my favorite.

As Harper is approaching her second birthday, we feel that life is not that much different from when we were just Matthew and Trey. We do the same things as we did before. Harper is just part of those things now. I felt like a newborn simplified life for us. We scheduled our activities around her schedule. Eat, Sleep, and Play. I would say that we had the luxury of both being on paternity leave and were able to develop that routine together. If it all possible, I encourage paternity leave.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

It is amazing to see the different parenting techniques and approaches by many different dads that we encounter. I catch myself copying certain aspects that I like. I understand that it is good to say yes rather than no. I often catch myself telling Harper not to do something. In retrospect, I should just say yes as long as it is not destructive, harmful or hurtful. It is very easy to get caught up with micromanaging a toddler. Watching other fathers interact with their children is a good way to encourage your analyzation of your parenting style. I also learned that when you go to Disney World, take a babysitter so you can enjoy the park too. A friend of ours in California uses the car ride to and from school to introduce his kids to a new genre of music or a new band. I admire this and force myself to turn away from talk radio to play a little Roxette.

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

Do things that are out of your comfort zone. Allow your child to experience the world. Enjoy the fresh air. Jump in water puddles. Play in the rain. Focus on your child’s health. Brush their teeth daily. Laugh a lot. Lead by example. Do not tolerate bullying in any form! Teach respect. Share your pop tarts with your kid. You can never take too many videos or pictures.

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

Not to sound cliche but having Harper want to be close to you. The pure love and joy of her companionship is heart warming. Being able to comfort her with the sound of your voice or a quick cuddle is by far the most rewarding things you can experience. Hearing the words dadda and daddy. Laughing the first time she says something inappropriate and then trying to determine a way to prevent it from happening again.

If you have any questions for Trey Darnell, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

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Dads in the Limelight – Mike Cruse from PapaDoesPreach.com

December 31, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Our 606th Dad in the Limelight is Mike Cruse from PapaDoesPreach.com. I want to thank Mike Cruse for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Mike Cruse with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)
I’m your typical working stiff. I also fancy myself a writer. I run a website called PapaDoesPreach.com where I try and talk about issues parents face, as well as trying to lift up fatherhood. I also try to bring a bit of the funny into my writing. Something like the heartfelt to the hilarious. My writing has been seen on Huffington Post, Good Men Project, and other sites like BLUNT Moms and Scary Mommy. I’ve also been fortunate to be interview on video for HuffPo Live and The Washington Post. But I think my most proud achievement from writing is being a part of the upcoming book Dads Behaving Dadly 2.

2) Tell me about your family
I’ve been with my wife for almost 10 years now (married for 6). We have 1 crazy little toddler son.3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
I think my my biggest challenge has been the feeling like I’m doing everything blind. I have been estranged from my family for over a decade, and my father was never in my life growing up. Without that family support, it really feels like I don’t have anyone to turn to for advice, or even for some reassurance that I’m doing ok. It’s really been hard.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
My advice would be to try not to go into the whole becoming a parent thing with any preconceived ideas or rigid expectations of what kind of father you’re going to be. Because trust me when I tell you, all of that stuff goes right out the window real quick.

5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
This has been really difficult, and I still struggle with this. My work consumes most my day, and when I get home I’m usually very tired. All that being said, I try and carve out as much time as I can on a daily basis to play with my son, or read with him, or just wrestle with him (his favorite thing to do). On the weekend, it’s all about him.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
I think I’ve really learned that even when I feel like I’m failing, I’m not. Many other dads have told me to not be so hard on myself, and to not take my toddler’s actions personally.

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
I love being a dad. It’s been one of the hardest, yet rewarding things I have ever done. When I’m stressed out, tired, feeling like I’m at the end of my rope, all it takes is one laugh from my son to remind me how awesome being a parent is.

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

Seeing as my son is my first child, everything has been pretty rewarding. Everything is still a “first”. But I think above all else the day he was born; holding him for the first time…that’s a moment I will never forget for the rest of my life.

If you have any questions for Mike Cruse, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

Dads in the Limelight – Dallas Price of The Richfield Reaper

December 27, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Our 605th Dad in the Limelight is Dallas Price of The Richfield Reaper. I want to thank Dallas Price for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Dallas Price with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

My name is Dallas Price, I’m in the limelight because, I was asked to be … actually I’m fine with being the guy behind the scenes. Sometimes, I do desire recognition for my work and what I do but, most of the time I’m fine just sitting in my chair and nodding agreement. I suppose this is my firstish guest post, so it’s kind of neat … I mainly design advertisements for the newspaper and write on my own blog, so being somewhere else is … pleasant. I design for the weekly newspaper The Richfield Reaper (www.richfieldreaper.com) do some freelance and computer repair work as it presents itself, I do silly illustrations for multiple microstock agencies and write for my own blog.

2) Tell me about your family

I have three girls and one boy … My 8 year old son is my sanity in this mess. My girls are 6, 3 and 1 … going on their next years in succession over the summer months. They are constantly at each others throats fighting over every single thing. My wife is the boss, she makes the whole place happen …

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

Balance … I’m very … I guess if I were to evaluate my parenting style I’d guess me close to the drill seargant but, I’m a total softy. My kids generally come home after school, do their homework, do their chore, play (if they have time), eat dinner, shower and go to bed. I’m not terribly forgiving on the schedule, it varies an hour some days. My biggest challenge is always exactly where the line is.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

Take your time, enjoy your time … there are very few more moments as precious in life as holding your childs hand as they do something for the first time. At the same time, don’t be afraid to let them entertain themselves … You aren’t their clown, you don’t have to entertain them … you’re there to help them and teach them. (and hopefully capture those moments, they only happen once)

5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?

Outside life? lol. I’m home. Always. Everyday. I sometimes go out on Saturday nights but, this is the place for me really. My wife works full time, she brings in the money. I work part-time, I blog, I feed and bath kids, I clean (generally never enough) …

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

That I’m not alone … sometimes it’s nice to hear people complain about what their kids did or whatever just to remember that every parent is basically in the same boat. I don’t know a bunch of other fathers. At least not many that take a terribly active roll in parenthood. Some don’t see their kids at all, some see thier kids for dinner, and a fair deal that only see thier children a couple of times a month … I won’t be one of them.

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

It’s a tough time, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise … I have learned to embrace the fact that I will cry during every single Disney movie, and mend wounds with a kiss … There are times that you have to hand out a good spanking even when it breaks your heart … and I promise a 6 year old girl is going to break your heart.

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

Um … I suppose my son’s seizure ends up forefront in my mind… definitely the scariest for me, it changed my life forever … second would be maybe when my (I think she was only 4 then) stood in the middle of the kitchen peeing on the floor and screaming “Look what you made me do” … It’s an adventure … Suppose those aren’t really positive, We went to the park this one time and nobody faught or pooped on a tree? lol. I’m joking of course there are memorable experiences daily … We just bought our first house! Idk I usually post them on my social profiles or sometimes my blog at drpgraphicdesign.com.

If you have any questions for Matt, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

Dad Spotlight – Episode 42 – Top Holiday Toys With Drew Bennett

December 21, 2015 by dadofdivas 9 Comments

This week in the Dads Toolbox of the Dad Spotlight Podcast we bring you an interview with Drew Bennett from Benspark.com as he tells you about some of the top holiday toys for 2015! I hope that you will take a listen and see for yourself. If you want to learn more about the toys, you can check out the notes from the episode!

Dads in the Limelight – Author Michael Byron Smith

December 20, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Our 603rd Dad in the Limelight is Author Michael Byron Smith. I want to thank Michael Byron Smith for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Michael Byron Smith with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers’ knowledge)

My name is Michael Byron Smith and I am not only a dad, but a grandfather. I was raised in the 1950s and 1960s as the oldest of six siblings. My father was not interested in being a dad and had a serious problem with alcohol. My mother was seventeen when I was born and was only twenty-seven when she found herself raising six children alone. She only completed the 10^th grade and could only find work as a waitress. As a consequence, those days were tough on all of us, mostly my mom!

I eventually found my way out of this circumstance through hard work and an academic scholarship. My siblings were not as fortunate. Some took a while to stabilize and are now doing fine. Others are still struggling as are two generations following them.

I am in the limelight because I have taken my experiences, failures and successes and I’ve written a book entitled, “The Power of Dadhood: How to Become the Father Your Child Needs”. The intent of the book is to help children through their dads. I do this by mentoring dads through their fears and encouraging them by helping them realize how vitally important they are to their children and their futures.

2) Tell me about your family

I have been married for forty years and have three children, all college graduates and serving the public, one daughter is a college counselor, another is an occupational therapist, and my son is an Army helicopter pilot. My wife is a retired parent educator and worked with single teen mothers for twenty years. I am a retired military officer, civilian aerospace engineer, and former Air Force pilot.

I have four adorable grandchildren from six years old to newborn (due any day). My wife and I are very involved in their lives and I still change diapers. The cost of childcare is so high, we love to help out.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

My largest challenge was leaning how to be one. My father’s example only taught me what NOT to do. My wife was patient with me and was a great mom. I did know that I wanted to be involved with them as much as possible. I held all my children often when they were babies, which I think establishes a solid relationship that lasts. I was there for them and remain so. This allows for many mistakes and still have a solid relationship with your children.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

Be there for your children! Don’t just be around, be involved. Be fun but have rules and stick to them. Consistency is key! They must know what to expect of you and what you expect of them. Let your children know they’re loved and remember, you also have a life outside of fatherhood. This will prevent you from becoming bitter about any lost self-identity you could be experiencing.
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?

This is important as I just mentioned. Compartmentalize while keeping communication channels clear. Work when it’s time to work (or play when it’s time to play), but be a dad when it’s time to be a dad. Sometimes you will get behind in work or fathering. When this happens, quality time is important for either. For instance, if you work late all week, plan a special weekend activity. If you miss work to check out schools for your kids, work a half day on Saturday to catch up. The thing to remember is to be all the way in in what you need to do at the time.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

Outside of a small community, men don’t talk much about being dads to each other, in my experience. I have learned, by observation of other fathers, things to do and not to do. The most obvious lessons I have seen are, unfortunately, things not to do. This includes embarrassing them in public or ignoring bad behavior. You can correct bad behavior without embarrassing them.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

I would say nothing is as satisfying as seeing your children succeed and be happy. You can be a big part of that through your nurturing, encouragement, love, and the principles you teach. I am proud of my accomplishments but the only accomplishments that matter in the end are my contributions towards the welfare of my children and grandchildren. All the dirty diapers, worry, and back talk are repaid over and over!
8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

It’s difficult to beat witnessing the birth of your children. But outside of that, it’s the surprising things my children have done that I didn’t expect. I remember my daughter performing a speech in middle school as I watched in shock and pride that she could be so at ease. I love the letters of thanks and memories that both daughters have always given to me and my wife. I recall my son wanting to be like me, the ultimate compliment! I also remember the worries I tried to push out of my mind when he was facing combat duty. I speak of the rewards of Dadhood in my book.

If you have any questions for Michael Byron Smith, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

Dads in the Limelight – Stand Up Comedian / Author: Ian Moore

December 17, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Our 602nd Dad in the Limelight is stand up comedian and author, Ian Moore. I want to thank Ian for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Ian Moore with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself and your family, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

My name is Ian Moore and I am a stand up comedian and author. I stand up in the UK and ‘auth’ in France where I wish I spent more of time. I am in my mid 40s, married and have three boys. One is 14, one is 9 and the third is 5. The younger two were born in France.

2) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

The largest challenge I currently face as a parent is simply not being around enough. Most of my time at the moment is spent working away from home and in another country. This puts pressure on my wife, who spends a large part of her time as a ‘single parent’ and it puts pressure on all of us when we are together to enjoy ‘quality time’. Well, not everyone’s moods coincide to make that happen…

3) What advice would you give to other fathers?

Don’t beat yourself up, you’ll be fine. I struggled to grasp the enormity of becoming a parent when my eldest was born. The responsibility felt too much and the bond between mother and son felt too great. I felt excluded and resentful. People, health professionals mainly, told me it would get easier and every time someone told me that I wanted to punch them in the mouth. You know what? It doesn’t get easier, you just have to make the adjustments to cope with it. Don’t feel guilty about that as I did. It’s the most life changing experience you can go through, so don’t feel bad if it takes a little time to find your feet. Also, learn to change nappies early, there’s a lot of brownie points to be had by showing you’re not running away.

4) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?

How do I balance these two things? I’m not entirely sure that I do! There is NEVER enough time so balance is forced upon you, just make sure that all the sacrifices aren’t from the one side over the other. And get yourself a quiet pint now and then, it’s important to take stock and regroup.

5) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

In short, very little. There’s no code for this, there’s no right way. You have to find your own way. In the early days when I was struggling I didn’t approach other fathers for help because I felt guilty and inadequate. I wish I had, it may have helped. I think there are more of us struggling out there than we realise but there wasn’t a close support network that mothers have. It’s only later when we come to terms with things, or at least begin to, that we relax enough to tell our mates/other dads.

6) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?The communication thing is vital. Dads have to get away from this idea of ‘head of the family’ responsibility where any sign of doubt or fear or indecision is seen as weakness. Seek advice, talk to friends, go to dads groups if there are any. You are not alone and just a small piece of advice could make your life easier, don’t see advice as a blow to the ego.

7) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

It’s part of parenting that you wish, need to protect your family. The innocence of childhood appears to be lost earlier and earlier and the temptation is to throw a blanket on your children and cover their eyes from the world. After the Charlie Hebdo killings earlier this year I had a long discussion with my son about respect and blasphemy and the world of religion and tolerance in general. I didn’t agree with much of what he said, maybe it’s a generational thing, but I was so proud that my wife and I had raised a son who had a depth of thought and not just the articulacy to express it but felt comfortable enough to challenge our so-called wisdom.

And don’t think that protection is all one way, one of my sons when he was only four saw me on a TV programme. I was doing well, I was getting laughs. The programme finished and he sat for a moment looking at the screen, he wasn’t happy.

“Well?” I said, looking at the screen, “What do you think?”

He shook his head, “I’m coming to work with you next time daddy. I’ll stop those people laughing at you!”

If you have any questions for Ian Moore, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

Dads in the Limelight – Martin Lewis of This Week’s Geek

December 6, 2015 by dadofdivas 2 Comments

Our 599th Dad in the Limelight is Martin Lewis of This Week’s Geek. I want to thank Martin Lewis for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Martin Lewis with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

My name is Martin Lewis and I have worn a lot of hats in my life and am certain that there are many more to come, but there is one hat that has fit better than any other; fatherhood. I have been a singer, actor, salesperson, volunteer, baker, costume maker, stay-at-home parent and currently I am Production Director for an independent comic book based on a hit global children’s animated television program, called SheZow. I feel intensely honored to have been asked to be part of such a wonderful program, but I don’t feel that what I am doing is anything special. I also write at This Week’s Geek.

2) Tell me about your family

I have one child and he is special needs. My son, Max has severe ADHD and has Hyperlexia (a condition that shares many commonalities with the Autism spectrum). We live in a suburb of Seattle, where we have been since the fall of 2008 when we came here for my wife’s work. Max was 8 months old when we loaded up my minivan and left New Jersey bound for sunny Seattle skies. It was at this time that I was lucky enough to be a stay-at-home father. Due to my spouse’s hectic travel schedule, I had a lot of one-on-one time with Max.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

There are all sorts of challenges and fears that go along with being a parent. I tell people that I never knew what fear was until my child was born. Just like I didn’t know true fear before, I also didn’t know the depth of love I could experience. I was now responsible this tiny person and that level of responsibility was both terrifying and infinitely wonderful. I can’t say that Max’s special needs are a challenge, because this is who he is and I would never want to change anything about him, I would only want to make his life easier.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

I have three bits of wisdom that I have picked up. First: Listen to your children. The stories they tell will give you a sneak peek into who they are. Second: Give them memories that they will cherish long into adulthood. It doesn’t cost much money to play dress-up and pretend to be princesses or dinosaurs, but it does take time and a willingness to be silly. Third: Love them and accept them for whoever they are and whoever they become.

5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?

Finding time for yourself to do the things that you love is extremely important. I want to be able to show my son that I am my own person with interests and a life outside of my time with him. You need to do things that are distinctly your own, things that give your life little bits of joy we all so desperately crave.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

I have learned that what may work for one parent may not necessarily work for all parents. Every child and every situation is unique. There are no instruction manuals with children, so be open, be flexible, be willing to laugh and be prepared to cry.

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

As parents, we are all painters creating what will be our greatest masterpieces. Our children are the blank canvases on which we work. It is up to us to give the world works of beauty that will inspire others for generations to come.

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

Raising children is always an adventure and you really need to be prepared for them to do or say almost anything. There is one memory that comes to mind: It was when Max was in preschool. His class was a particularly spirited and vocal group of children, but the teacher always knew when Max was up to something because the room would become eerily quiet because all eyes were watching whatever mischief my son was creating at the time. I would tell people that he wasn’t acting up; he was simply acting out very intricate performance art pieces. Luckily, he has grown out of that.
If you have any questions for Martin Lewis, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

Dads in the Limelight – David Meltzer, CEO of Sports 1 Marketing

November 29, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Our 597th Dad in the Limelight is David Meltzer, CEO of Sports 1 Marketing. I want to thank David Meltzer for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing him with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

My name is David Meltzger and I grew up in a family of 6 children and a single mother who was always giving every penny she earned to give us an opportunity to empower us. I was the low end of my gene pool and only sibling who didn’t get accepted in to an Ivy League school. I chose to play football at Occidental College, thinking a 5’7’’ Jewish guy could still make it to the NFL. Growing up I worked harder than anyone else and made my own luck.

I graduated from Tulane Law School, passed the BAR to please my mother, and quickly jumped in to technology. In my early 20s, I was at the top of my game in the business world and lecturing around the globe. But something was missing, and as a multimillionaire went on a rapid downward spiral that ended in bankruptcy.

It was only then that I realized, in order to revive and thrive, I needed to blend spirituality with business. I began to pragmatically list my principles and started to meld my newfound life and business outlook as CEO to sports super agent Leigh Steinberg (played by Tom Cruise in the movie Jerry Maguire), and the result of his transformation is the remarkably successful venture – Sports 1 Marketing – which he began with Hall of Fame Quarterback Warren Moon.

As CEO of Sports 1 Marketing, and a national top ten best-selling author of Connected To Goodness. I have been fortunate enough to become a international public speaker again, profiled by national publications such as Forbes, ESPN, and Bloomberg.

Sports 1 Marketing is a sports and entertainment firm that leverages the $2 billion in relationship capital surrounding the world’s largest sporting events. Previous and current projects include: The Master’s, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl, ESPYs, Pro Football Hall of Fame, the Unstoppable Foundation, Newport Beach Film Festival, and many countless others.

2) Tell me about your family

I have a beautiful wife of 18 years who I first met in the 4th grade.

We have 4 children 3 girls: Marissa 16 , Mia 13 and Marlena 10 and 1 boy Miles 5.

We live in Southern Orange County.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

Empowering my children while giving them everything they desire.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

Your kids come through you not for you!

5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?

“The Power of 64” which I explain in my book as work twice the hours in a day, be twice as efficient and twice as statistically successful.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

I have seen several businessmen who as fathers, and executives, show me what not to do!

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

It is the best job in the world. I love being a father and try to answer all my kids request with How…How can we do that together? I try not to give a “no” to any request.

The universe only knows Yes… You have to figure out the “How?”

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

We have family dinner together at least 5 nights a week. This keeps us connected and allows us to experience all of our shared lives as one.

With work, speaking engagements, events, and appearances I travel a lot for work. Sometimes when I know I won’t be able to get my family dinner 5 nights in the week I have my children help me pack before I leave for my trip. It has turned in to a family bonding experience in which I get to teach my children new things as well as spend time with them. I teach my youngest, Miles, about colors, brands, tying a tie, and all the places I am traveling to. My son no longer sees leaving as a bad thing, but now gets excited to help Dad pack! Upon my arrival he is quick to unpack to see if I brought anything back for him.
If you have any questions for David Meltzer, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

Dads in the Limelight – Punk Rock Papa Briton Underwood

November 29, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Our 598th Dad in the Limelight is Punk Rock Papa Briton Underwood. I want to thank Briton Underwood for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Briton Underwood with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

Well, first off – I am just so happy to be here. So thank you!

About me? Well my name is Briton Underwood and I am a twenty-three year old father of three boys. Being a father to two-year old twins and a newborn I don’t get much time to talk about myself! Where to begin? When I am not being a full-time dad I work at night to support my family. Yes, I work at night then spend my day raising three boys, all under two. What is sleep and who needs it? I like being an active father, it is my favorite past-time, rivaled only by my love for writing.

As for limelight, I have been “blogging” for about seven months. I detest the word blogger, we are writers telling a story! My space on the internet is Punk Rock Papa where I write about whatever I want really! I don’t try and typecast myself to a certain theme because as a person I have a variety of things I enjoy talking about. That being said, 99% of my blog is devoted to me being a father. You can also catch me on The Original Bunker Punks, a submission based literary website I founded with four of the boldest writers and friends I know. I also have had some various guest spots on Sisterwives, Long Awkward Pause AND a nod on Life of Dad. I get around.

2) Tell me about your family

My favorite thing to talk about! It all starts with my wife! Diana is a wonderful and supportive woman who also has the ability to kick me in the right direction. In addition to her love she has given me three children. Killian and Nicolas are twins but complete individuals. Killian is a sporty two year old who lives for making people happy. He loves to smile and loves to do silly things to get others to laugh. Nicolas is a rambunctious little firecracker. The boy is my mini me with a love for music and running around as fast as he can. Ezra is our resident baby, at only three months old he loves to spit up on freshly washed shirts when you least expect it. Spit up is usually followed by an infectious smile! Rounding out my family is our loving pitbull, Stella. She is a rescue who has such a strong familial connection with the kids. She is one of the family, so much so that the boys make her a little plate at every meal.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

I think my largest challenge was the isolation. Having become a father when I was young and still in the “party” stages, I lost a lot of friends who didn’t understand why I couldn’t go out on Friday nights anymore. It was an interesting transition, one I might add I do not regret.

For the first year I felt really alone. I worked a full-time job, then raised kids. My wife worked a full-time job, then took care of the kids. We didn’t get any us time during that first year. It really affected us emotionally as a couple and individually. We were married and loved each other but at the end of the day we really felt alone in the process. Those feelings lead to a ton of miscommunication and had us both almost call it quits.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

I have two pieces of advice that I would recommend to both mothers and fathers.

Find some you time and keep it. Like I said before, parenting can get very isolating. I know when I was going from work to parenting I didn’t have me time and it seriously messed me up. I wasn’t happy. It is hard to parent when you are not happy. You find yourself not fully invested in your child at times. So, I began to write. When I write, even if it is about the kids, I have my headphones and my words. This is my me time, I come out of it happier and ready to kick some ass!
Nobody knows what they are doing. Every child is different. Your children are individuals who require individual parenting. If every child needs its own custom way to grow, learn and become- how can anyone know what they are doing? They can have a good idea, but no one truly knows how to parent. Don’t hold your kids or yourself to someone else’s parenting. If you have enough invested into parenting that you are worried about messing up, chances are you are doing a good job simply by caring that much. There is no ruler by which to measure yourself and if there is it certainly isn’t the parents passing you in the grocery store.

5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?

We play outside a lot, hah! Well, there isn’t much outside life that doesn’t revolve around a playground to be honest. What I do have is personal time inside. Being a writer there is no place I feel more comfortable than tapping away at the keys right here. A lot of my friends are fellow writers who I get to discuss the craft with. My wife and I do have our shows we try to keep up on and our drinks we try to finish before passing out after a long day of parenting. It certainly isn’t glamorous or anything, but it fits us. We are homebodies and DVR junkies.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

I am going to take the time to shamelessly plug Joe Medler of Developing Dad. He happens to be a fellow writer and dad that I find myself interacting with most. We have had some great conversations about parenting. His blog is one of my favorites. He has taught me a lot about parenting, I couldn’t find a place to start. Our kids are roughly the same age, so there are a lot of similar experiences there.

But what has he taught me? Looking at our conversations, I think it is less of what he has taught me about fatherhood and more so what he has taught me about being a good person. Always an ardent supporter and true friend, Joe has really helped me become a better person. Being a better person only makes you a better father!

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

Thus far I have been peed, pooped and puked upon. I have had moments where I beamed with pride followed by long nights of feeling like a failure as a parent. Parenting is one go the hardest and most rewarding things I have ever done. My kids have a grip on my heart and I look forward to learning how to parent through teens, love and grey hairs.

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent

My kids milestones. I am sitting perfect on not missing any milestones. I have been there, sleep deprived, cheering my kids on as the crawled, walked, and more recently, screamed like banshees while refusing nap time. Killian and Nicolas holding their newborn brother with an understanding I cannot fathom in a two year old. The glow on their faces when they discover a new talent or ability is unrivaled. Watching my wife stare at our newborn with pure deep love and connection. Every day is a memorable experience around here. Thanks so much for having me Dad of Divas, It’s been fun!

If you have any questions for Briton Underwood, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

Dads in the Limelight – Disability Advocate Martin Emery

November 19, 2015 by dadofdivas Leave a Comment

Our 594th Dad in the Limelight is Martin Emery. I want to thank Manchester United superfan and disability advocate Martin Emery for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with Martin Emery and now sharing him with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)
My Name is Martin Emery, I’m 33 and live in South Wales. I work in a Contact Centre working Nights, providing Emotional Support for a number of Charities in the UK. I am originally from Manchester, and as a Result of that I am a massive Manchester United Fan, which leads me onto the limelight bit.

I have started up a Campaign / Blog to highlight some of the issues Disabled Fans face when trying to watch Manchester United. I set this up, as I wanted to take my three Children to watch Manchester United, but was told as one of my children is a wheelchair user, we were not allowed to sit together. I found this really unfair, as I felt that the whole point in going to a football match as a family, was to share the thrill, the highs and lows together.

Manchester United when questioned about this then told me I could always watch Stockport, Oldham or Rochdale. To be fair to them, that was like blue touch paper to a match and I decided to make a stand. I now have a dedicated twitter account @utddiscriminate and the Blog is https://utddiscriminate.wordpress.com/ . Since setting up the blog, I have been contacted by many other fans who have been discriminated against by Manchester United, and its gathering pace, and building in size. And I am hoping that this will one day help lead to change at the club I love.

2) Tell me about your family.
Well I’m Married to Cerys, to be honest she is an amazing woman, and I wouldn’t be half the father I am today without Cerys by my side. It’s hard to admit, but her tool box is a lot bigger than mine, she puts all the shelves up, and builds the wardrobes in our house. lol. Then we move onto the Kids. Jordan is our eldest, 18 in April, then there is Ethan who is 6, and Zac who is 4.

Jordan suffers with a life limiting medical condition called Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome. This means that Jordan suffers with many different types of seizures a day, usually between 60-80 in total, which as a result has led to him having learning difficulties, and now uses a wheelchair to get around.

We’re not the type to let this stop him from doing things, and try to ensure that he gets to do things that the other kids do. The illness means that he has his fair share of Bad days, and long stays in Hospital, but as a family unit, we have adapted well, and now have a routine in place where one stays in the day or night with Jordan, and the other is with the other two, and then we swap.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

Being a father you are faced with different challenges every day, be it balancing work commitments with family commitments. Wondering how on earth we are going to manage to afford Christmas. Or telling you’re 6 year old to stand up to a bully, but without getting him into trouble too. I would say that my biggest challenge has been finding a role, that provides the family with a financial income, whilst also being flexible enough to let me goto hospital appointments, be there at a moment’s notice should Jordan end up being taken ill. I have had many a job, trying to achieve this balance, and even set up my own business, working for myself. Luckily finally with the night shifts, I think I may have found that.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

My advice to fathers would be Hold on tight, you’re in for one hell of a ride mate. There will be many ups, and many downs, but the great thing about being a dad, is that moment when your child comes out with something for the first time, and it reminds you of you. That is an amazing experience, and something that I don’t think you will ever find anywhere else. Grab hold of them moments and enjoy them, and all the other stresses and strains that come with fatherhood are manageable.
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?

I don’t think you can ever truly balance parenthood and outside life. Yes you have a life outside of the family, but the family weighs down on that heavily. Any parent with a child with Disabilities or additional needs will tell you, that your outside life becomes smaller, and with that so too does your social group. This is because we arrange to do things with Friends or family, and at the last minute we have to cancel, because our child is having another bad day. After a couple of times, people stop inviting you. I get that, I understand it too, but it does sort of leave you and your family alone to face the world. It also means that it brings the family closer together, stronger.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

Through a local children’s hospice, I have met a number of Fathers who have been in similar situations to myself. Some of these fathers have also had a longer Journey than mine, and there child has grown his / her angel wings and left this world for a better place.

Just over a year ago I was attempting to do what is called the Three Peak Challenge with some of them, to raise money for Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice. This is climbing the three highest peaks in wales in 15 hours. At the top of the first Peak, I collapsed with a suspected Heart Attack. The 3 Other Dads who were with me, showed some true grit that day. Staying with me on top of that Cold Mountain, waiting for a helicopter keeping up the banter, and keeping my mind off the absolute mess I was in. They helped the Mountain rescue team carry me to the Helicopter. And then after standing around in freezing conditions for the best part of 4 hours, they dug their heels in and completed the other two peaks. Those lads are now lifelong friends, and they have the right to use the word Father too.

I now have a small group of friends who understand the complexities of having a child with disabilities. And I know that, should I need to talk, I can. A few of us get together for a beer or two, or three or four and if one of us can’t make it, we understand why, and look forward to the next time they can. I guess knowing these lads has made me learn that as a father we have our own little bubble, and that bubble comes first.

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

Being a father is not something you can put down, turn off for 90 minutes while the football is on. Attend an event and forget. It’s there 24/7 365 days a year. It’s an honour and a pleasure, and something that makes me proud every day. It has its moments, it has its mind blowingly difficult moments. But we get through the. And i wouldn’t change it for the world.
8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

I have many memorable moments as a father. The time Ethan Spoke, The time Zac walked. The time Jordan’s wheelchair wheel fell off, and i had to look for a spare nut under some scaffolding that was nearby. The look on the wifes face when she told me she was pregnant. The first Christmas Concert, the nights you get no sleep because “daddy my belly hurts”. And the great thing about being a dad is, today another memory will be made, and tomorrow, and the day after. And hopefully one day soon, myself and my three children, will be sat at Old Trafford together watching a match, making memories together as we should be aloud to.

If you have a spare 10 seconds, and literally thats what it will take please sign my petition https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/family-wheelchair-spaces-at-football and help me make that last memory happen.

If you have any questions for Martin Emery, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

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