Our 610th Dad in the Limelight is Todd Marriott of Battle Victorious & Giftysong.com. I want to thank Todd Marriott for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Todd Marriott 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 Todd Marriott and I love writing music. I am a singer/songwriter and have released 3 CD’s under the name Battle Victorious (www.battlevictorious.com). We also started a side business called Giftysong.com where we write custom songs to give as gifts or use in promotional stuff (www.giftysong.com). The music causes us to be in the limelight. We have played music for more than 10 years now and have attracted a number of of fans and played countless shows, and done multiple tours. No, we are not famous. While I love music, it is not currently paying the bills. My day job basically involves checking up on vacation properties for Carolina Cabin Rentals (www.carolinacabinrentals.com)
2) Tell me about your family
I have been married for 10 years this year. My wife Emily is amazing and stays at home with our 3 kids. God bless her. They are Eva (5), Skylar (3), and Paisley (1). We all have our little quirks. Eva loves reading and collecting wallets and purses. Skylar really likes bouncy balls and really really likes food. Paisley just started walking and would play in the toilet all day long if you let her. We don’t obviously, but baths work too.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?Patience. Really, a lack of it. I tend to have a short fuse and forget that my kids are so little. I think that I expect too much from them sometimes. If you wanted to condense it all down into one word, I would say BEDTIME. That stereotypical moment when they just NEED to have another drink of water or trip to the bathroom. All I hear is “I need to interrupt your plans again and steal your precious free time away.” I never believe my children when they tell me something that has to do with them “winning” my time. You know, like they are getting out of something or getting rewarded. It’s so hard to sift through the body language of a 5 year old to know if they are needing to pee for the 3rd time in 2 hrs (really?) or if they just want to get out of bed again. Are they really sick, or do they just want your pity and to watch Dora all day? Hard stuff. I just want to do the right thing. To not give in. But also, to give in if it’s right.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
Learn your kid’s love language. Some form of love that you show them might mean something to you, but nothing to them. Notice the little things that they do and keep mental notes and use them to communicate on an individual level with each one.
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
Outside life? Ha! I’m just kidding. We are church going folk, so we really find that is a good time to reconnect with friends and re-engage those social skills. Other than that, I know that Emily has play dates with the kids etc. I on the other hand am less of a social butterfly and tend to work too much. This one is a work in progress for me. Currently not too balanced, but we don have a healthy marriage and keep each happy and sane.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
That they don’t have it figured out either. We are all in the same boat, and it is full of tiny screaming passengers.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
It’s been amazing and hard work. I can see why a lot of fathers don’t and maybe can’t engage with their children (though not right). It’s messy business and emotionally draining. It takes guts and grit, and lots of time and energy. Not to mention sleep!
8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
We have really fun vacations. They are all so memorable even though they mostly just involve getting out of town and being together. Also, my 2 oldest kids love to “play games on me” They really like it when I pretend to be a sleeping “tickle monster”. They run around me while I am “sleeping” and I try to catch and tickle them with my eyes closed. Someone always gets tripped or whacked on the head. I have since learned to hold back a bit more 🙂
We have really fun vacations. They are all so memorable even though they mostly just involve getting out of town and being together. Also, my 2 oldest kids love to “play games on me” They really like it when I pretend to be a sleeping “tickle monster”. They run around me while I am “sleeping” and I try to catch and tickle them with my eyes closed. Someone always gets tripped or whacked on the head. I have since learned to hold back a bit more 🙂
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!
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