This Sunday, June 18, people around the globe will have a chance to spend a day dedicated to Dad, thanking him for all the guidance, all the love, and all the laughs over the years. To all the dads, bonus dads, and father figures: thank you for all that you do!
Protiviti is proud to honor just a few of our super dads as they share their experiences as fathers and give us all a little peek into what parenthood means to them.
A Word From Our Fathers
Ray – Director, Technology Consulting
What parts of fatherhood bring you the most joy?
Watching Audrey learn and grow brings me the most joy. Currently, my favorite part of the day is taking Audrey out of the bassinet when she first wakes up. She’s now 5 months old so she is becoming more aware of her environment and recognizing faces. There’s nothing better than when she sees me and gives the biggest gummy grin and giggle. It melts my heart every time. Her curiosity continues to grow each day, and I love watching her learn and develop. I feel so much joy and pride when I see her accomplish little milestones like rolling out of tummy time, grabbing her toys, or burping on her own. She’s at a such a fun age right now and I’m soaking it all in because she’s growing up so fast.
What is something that being a father has taught you?
Fatherhood has taught me a few things. First off, its taught me a different degree of love. We all understand the basic concept of “love”; however, we may experience love in different ways and levels whether it’s a significant other, friends, pets, work, hobbies, etc. The moment Audrey opened her eyes and stared into mine, I felt a completely different type of love. It’s something I can’t describe in words, but I felt it at my core. Fatherhood has also taught me a new level of patience. As adults, we work through our frustrations with words and actions. The toughest moments happen when Audrey is upset, and everything we try to calm her doesn’t seem to work. It’s easy to get frustrated. I must remind myself that Audrey is crying because she’s uncomfortable and crying is her only way of communicating. It seems extremely silly, but I find you’re not always thinking straight when it happens in the middle of the night or when you’re tired. That’s when I start to feel guilty for becoming frustrated. It can be mentally and physically taxing, but it’s become easier as we’ve learned more about Audrey, and she’s learned more about us. Luckily, I have a great partner by my side in my wife Brandi. We take turns in those challenging times allowing the other to take a breath and reset. We have a strong foundation, and Audrey has only strengthened that bond.
What do you admire about fathers/parents?
Growing up, my dad supported me in everything that I did. He pushed me when I needed to be pushed and was there to pick me up in my lowest moments. No matter what, he was my biggest cheerleader. He was there for every baseball game, band concert, and family outing. He taught me the importance of family and love through his actions. One of my fondest memories is at a baseball tournament when I was 14. We ended up in the loser’s bracket and had to win 4 or 5 games to win the championship. He smoked a cigar during the first game in which we won. Baseball is a highly superstitious sport, so he continued smoking cigars, and we kept winning. In total, he smoked 9 cigars, and we won the championship. It’s a story we still laugh at to this day. For me, that’s what I admire about fathers and hope to be the same for my kids. Being present and shepherding my kids through life’s ups and downs.
What do you hope to inspire in your kids?
I hope to inspire my kids to be the best versions of themselves. To be kind, compassionate, empathetic, and confident in who they are so they can have a positive impact in whatever they decide to do.
Evan – Learning & Development Senior Specialist
What parts of fatherhood bring you the most joy?
I love watching my son figure things out. Going from “I need help” to “hey, I did it!” is something that brings me immense joy.
What is something that being a father has taught you?
We put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be the “perfect dad”, but the truth is we just need to be present and loving. Being a father has given me a lot of perspective. All that matters to me is making my son laugh and smile. It’s helped me realize that my dreams for my son are not as important as his dreams for himself.
What do you admire about fathers/parents?
I like working at Protiviti because it puts a focus on something I admire about parents: balance. There are so many things to juggle when you bring a child into the world like: who am I, who do I want to be for my kid, who do I want to be in the workplace, how can I make sure lunch is ready for school in the morning, how much TV is too much TV, what time is a good bedtime, how many stuffies does someone really need, and can I really function waking up at 5:40 AM? You see my point. I admire the ability of every parent to balance it all and be there for their kids at the same time.
What do you hope to inspire in your kids?
That being nice is free, and that there is immense power in using kindness first.
James – Senior Consultant 2, Technology Consulting
What parts of fatherhood bring you the most joy?
Getting to share my passions with my sons. But also watching them develop their own likes and dislikes. I love my 4 year old’s taste in music.
What is something that being a father has taught you?
Punishment is hardly ever the way to teach someone something.
What do you admire about fathers/parents?
My father had a great sense of humor. I try to have fun and make jokes with my boys in the same ways he did. My stepfather is very wise and compassionate, always willing to use his myriad skills to help others. I hope I can exemplify that for my boys too.
What do you hope to inspire in your kids?
A sense of curiosity about the world around them. I love to see them ask questions about everything.
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