In honour of Father’s Day, I thought it would be fun to sit down with my two favourite men – my dad and my husband – to ask them some questions about fatherhood.
Here’s what they had to say:
Q: How did you know you wanted to be a dad?
Hubs: I’ve always loved children and having my own was a lifelong dream. Having a son or daughter to love, and look up to me means the world. First steps, first bike ride, celebrating birthdays … it gives my life purpose beyond myself.
Dad: I knew I wanted to be a dad, knowing I would be called Dad and because I also wanted to have the blessing of raising a family.
Q: What do you remember most about when your daughter was born? What was it like holding her for the first time?
Hubs: The first thought I had was, “Don’t ever drop her.” The second was, “She can do no harm.” She was just so innocent, sweet, calm – just wanted to be held by us like she was held inside her mama. There was an instant mind shift from panic to calm in the moment that she was born. It was something that I’ve never experienced since.
Dad: When you were born, I remember the joy and excitement it brought to me to see and hold you for the first time.
Note: He was so excited to bring me home that he forgot the diaper bag on the ground behind the car, and backed up right over it, smearing a big jar of Vaseline everywhere.
Q: What do you enjoy most about being a dad?
Hubs: I most enjoy the joy that I see on Madilynn’s face when I come running down the stairs after work and I wanna hold her. She has the biggest smile on her face when she hears ‘Dada’ and it makes it all worth it.
Dad: The thing I’ve enjoyed most about being a dad is being able to give advice to my own girls, and share time with them as they’ve grown up.
Q: What is the secret to raising good kids?
Hubs: There is none. Every child / family / life experience is different. You have to decide what’s best for your family and communicate with your spouse. You look ahead and plan a little bit when you’re trying to make decisions. There’s no exactly right or exactly wrong way of doing it.
Dad: From my experience, the secret to raising good kids is spending valuable time with them and being there for them when needed.
Q: What do you want your children (and grandchildren) to remember about you?
Hubs: That I’m awesome. JK. I want them to remember someone that was always there for them and worked hard to provide for his family. Someone that loved spending time together and having fun. Basically, a hard-working, loving dad that never gave up on them. Oh, and someone who was once one of Canada’s best developers under 30.
Dad: I would most want my children and grandchildren to remember that I was always there for them as they grew, every step of the way. I want them to know that I was a faithful father and grandfather.
And now, all that’s left to say is … THANK YOU!
Dad, thank you for always being a quiet, yet strong presence in my life. Your warm heart and sense of humour have been the greatest gifts in times of trial. I’m super proud to be your daughter!
Andrew, thank you for loving our daughter unconditionally. Hearing your “life lessons with dada” and watching you play always brings a smile to my face. I’m so proud to be your wife!