With Father’s Day happening this month, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate local dads than to shine a spotlight on some of the cool local dads we’ve been inspired by throughout the year.
We asked nine metro fathers to share their experiences and advice with our readers. Some just became dads for the first time this year while others have been parenting for decades. They come from all walks of life and have all faced different challenges in their journeys to be awesome fathers. We hope you’ll be encouraged and inspired by their comments. Take time this month to thank the men in your life for all they do for their kids.
Jason Scott
32, Oil & Gas Automation Specialist in Edmond
Father to: Benjamin, 11, Jacob, 9, Olivia, 3, Cordelia, 1.
What is your favorite thing about being a dad?
Coming home and having the monkeys jump on me and tell me how much they miss me.
What have you learned or how have you changed since becoming a dad?
I’d like to say I make better choices. I try to think about my kids before I make big decisions and put them first.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about fatherhood?
They grow up quick. Cherish the moment.
Did you learn anything from your own parents that’s helped you be a better dad?
A little quality time goes a long way.
What do you think is the biggest mistake most dads make?
Probably the same one I can do, being too busy with work, and forgetting to take the time your kids need.
What is the best and/or worst Father’s Day gift you’ve ever received?
The best gift ever was a handmade shirt with the hand print of my firstborn when he was 1. I still wear it 10 years later.
What’s your proudest moment as a dad?
Every day seeing them grow and discover the world around them. From the 1-year-old toddling around and waving bye-bye with both hands to the 11-year-old learning that girls aren’t yucky and caring about how he smells. The 3-year-old becoming a bike riding master (with training wheels) to the 9-year-old getting excited about his new desk in his room so he’ll have a place to do his homework. They all have their own personalities and make me proud in their own way every day.
What are you most looking forward to about fatherhood?
Being there for the kiddos when they come to me for advice or have questions. They seem to go through phases of “knowing everything there is to know” to being uber-dependent and wanting to do “everything just like dad does.” I cherish the moments where I know I’m making an impact on their future and creating memories of a lifetime.
Gregory “Heady” Coleman
41, coordinator at North Church and entrepreneur in Guthrie
Father to: Kenneth, 17; Zale, 10; Nia, 8
What is your favorite thing about being a dad?
Well, I can tell you it’s not waking up my kids for school in the morning. But, I would say my favorite thing about being a dad is the opportunity God has given me to train them up to be successful in life. I believe this is done through consistently teaching them the principles God has laid out in the Bible.
I also love just hanging out as a family—eating together, bike riding through town, going to the movies, laughing about silly things, making up rap songs, etc.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about fatherhood?
The best advice I have ever gotten was a song I learned as a child that said, “read your bible and pray every day and you grow, grow, grow and you grow, grow, grow.” I think as long as I’m growing per this growth plan, I will be an awesome father. Now this is easier sang than done.
Did you learn anything from your own parents that’s helped you be a better dad?
I learned from my mother to be consistent in sharing God’s Word with your children and I learned from my father to work hard to provide for your family. Side note: I didn’t grow up with my father and mother in the same home. However, I learned great things from both of them. High five to them for being awesome.
What do you think is the biggest mistake most dads make?
I think, for me personally, the biggest mistake I make is allowing work to carry over into my family time. I need to work on being all there during my evenings and weekends with the family.
What is the best and/or worst Father’s Day gift you’ve ever received?
The best gift I can ever get is just a great family dinner at home with my family. I love it when we just all sit around, eat, talk, laugh and play games.
What’s your proudest moment so far as a dad?
The proudest moment so far is being a great husband to my wife so that my children can see how a healthy relationship should look. When I say healthy, I’m not talking perfect.
What are you most looking forward to about fatherhood?
My children leaving the house and starting their own lives. I’m really looking forward to what the future holds for them. Also, I’m ready for it to be just my wife and me hanging out solo but I’m going to enjoy them while they are here.
Richard Newberry
35, software support specialist for a payroll and tax compliance program in Midwest City
Father to: Madisyn, 7
What is your favorite thing about being a dad?
That’s a tough question. Since becoming a dad I have found that every day is a new experience. I think the best part so far is all the love and hugs that I get from Madisyn and the excitement that she shows each day when I come home from work.
Did you learn anything from your own parents that’s helped you be a better dad?
I learned about how to be a good parent from my mom and I try to be as good of a parent as she was.
What is the best and/or worst Father’s Day gift you’ve ever received?
Every Father’s Day gift that I get from my daughter is the best.
What’s your proudest moment so far as a dad?
Probably listening to her read to me the first time. She always makes me proud, though.
Jayson John
31, pastor in Edmond
Father to: Moriah Evelyn, 20 months old
What have you learned or how have you changed since becoming a dad?
When I found out we were having a girl, I must admit I was a little apprehensive. I don’t tend to be very emotional or tenderhearted. However, after Moriah came into my life I believe she has certainly softened some of my rough edges, and that has manifested in other areas of my life. I think fatherhood forces you to look at the world differently, and if you’re willing to adapt, it can make you a better person.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about fatherhood?
The best advice I’ve been given is to make a conscious and intentional effort to protect my relationship with my wife and not let Moriah be our only focus. We have to make time for each other. A strong and healthy relationship between Simi and myself is the greatest gift I could ever give my daughter.
Did you learn anything from your own parents that’s helped you be a better dad?
My dad sacrificed a lot for his family. When he came to Oklahoma as an immigrant from India, he left behind a successful and comfortable career. He uprooted his entire life, so that through hard work and dedication he could give my siblings and I the best opportunity to accomplish anything we set our minds to do. My parents modeled sacrifice for us on a daily basis and I hope to be as humble and selfless as they were for their children.
What do you think is the biggest mistake most dads make?
First, I think many dads underestimate what their approval and encouragement means to their kids. Your sons want to know how proud you are of them and how much you admire them. Your daughters need to hear how beautiful you think they are and they need to know that you will always be their protector. This drives our kids to achieve greater things and dream bigger dreams and instead of seeking the approval of others by whatever means necessary they will walk in the confidence that you have built up in them.
Secondly, I think dads can neglect their spouses as the kids’ needs, events, programs, and activities slowly take over our lives. One day your kids will leave your home and if you’ve spent the better part of two decades ignoring the needs of your wife, you’ll look across the room after everyone is gone and find a stranger looking back at you.
What is the best and/or worst Father’s Day gift you’ve ever received?
Moriah is only 20 months old so I’m pretty sure she gave me a dirty diaper last year.
What’s your proudest moment so far as a dad?
Anytime Moriah learns something new; a new word, a new song, a new activity, I just swell up with pride!
Ben Flint
41, stand-up comedian in Midwest City
Father to: Katie, 6; Maggie, 3; Colin, 10 months
What is your favorite thing about being a dad?
My favorite thing about being a dad is when my little girls yell, “Daddy!” and run to me when I come home.
What have you learned or how have you changed since becoming a dad?
I’ve learned how to live on a lot less sleep. And that our house is never going to be clean again. I’m also much more sensitive to the content of movies, TV and music. Unfortunately, so many media sources out there aimed at kids are not appropriate for children at all.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about fatherhood?
The best advice I’ve heard and heeded as a father is to enjoy your children at every age. The time really does fly, especially with multiple children. When they’re crawling, don’t rush them to walk. Enjoy it and soak it up. They will want and need you less and less every day so celebrate those milestones, but allow them to be little for as long as they can. When my children get in a rush to grow up, I always tell them, “Slow down, being an adult isn’t that great.”
What do you think is the biggest mistake most dads make?
I think the biggest mistake most dads make is choosing excessive work, hobbies or sports over their children. Modern life gets so busy and time slips away quickly. I work as little as possible and don’t have any hobbies. The only two places in the world I want to be are on stage doing comedy and at home with my family so I try not to get distracted with anything else. My children will be grown and moved away before I know it so I try to give them as much of my time as I can.
What is the best and/or worst Father’s Day gift you’ve ever received?
Last year, my wife made construction paper cutouts of her hand and both of my daughters’ hands. Then she laid them on top of each other, with the smallest on top. She titled it, “Flint Girls” and framed it for me. That was the best. I also get to have buffalo wings from Wing Stop on Father’s Day, so that’s a pretty close second.
What are you most looking forward to about fatherhood?
I’m most looking forward to seeing their personalities develop and how that will impact the dynamic of our family. Katie is already a typical first-born – a natural leader and in charge of everything we will allow her to. Maggie is a classic middle child – playing dress-up and laughing at anything that has to do with poop. And Colin, well…if I can keep his sisters from dressing him up like a girl too much, he should be alright.
Any other comments/thoughts about your family you’d like to share?
My wife (a Captain in the Oklahoma Air National Guard and owner of a fitness apparel company called Fit Like Flint) is incredible. As we balance two entrepreneurial ventures with her military service and family time, she’s often the backbone of our family. Like most comedians, I’m a mess. I’m wildly self-absorbed and have a short temper. She puts up with me as I pace around the house, step over children, and rehearse under my breath. She reminds me when I have “Daddy-Daughter Dates” and keeps the whole family on schedule. She is a savvy business woman, an amazing mother and a loving wife. I am blessed to have her.
David Boren
President of the University of Oklahoma in Norman
Father to: Dan, 41; Carrie, 44. Grandfather to: Janna, 7; Hunter, 5.
What is your favorite thing about being a dad?
At this stage of my life it is seeing my children develop into caring adults who want to make a positive difference in the lives of other people.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about fatherhood?
Allow your children to be themselves. Do not try to control the direction of your children’s’ lives. They should follow their own interests and passions.
Did you learn anything from your own parents that’s helped you be a better dad?
My parents helped me develop a strong moral compass to guide me in my life, and I hope I was able to do the same for my children. The most important lessons my own father taught me came not from the words he spoke, but from the example which he set. I never saw him fail to do what he thought was right.
What do you think is the biggest mistake most dads make?
Parents should never place conditions on the love that they extend to their children. Those who receive unconditional love as children grow up to be secure and successful adults.
What is the best and/or worst Father’s Day gift you’ve ever received?
I have never received a bad Father’s Day gift from my children. The mere fact that they wanted to give it to me made it wonderful.
Trey Elmore
25, service writer at Cummins in Oklahoma City
Father to: Bethany, 2; Melody, 5 months
What is your favorite thing about being a dad?
Father’s Day! It’s like playing checkers and you can finally say “king me.” Seriously, the fact that no matter what, I’ll be loved for 13 to 14 years, because once my girls become teenagers that all comes to an end!
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about fatherhood?
You will be your daughters’ first love. It makes you evaluate the kind of person you are and what you can do better so you’re setting the example you know you should.
Did you learn anything from your own parents that’s helped you be a better dad?
Be there. Unless my own health prevents it, nothing should ever get in the way of my responsibility.
What do you think is the biggest mistake most dads make?
Not embracing their inner housewife. Yes men are natural providers, but it’s a winning combination to be a provider and help around the house. Ask my wife.
What’s your proudest moment so far as a dad?
Coming home from work. When I get home from a stressful day, my oldest daughter comes outside yelling, “Da Da!” It will make anyone feel like a superhero.
What are you most looking forward to about fatherhood?
The first conversation with my daughter’s first boyfriend. I am not a gun owner but I’m doing my research on quality gun brands as we speak.
William Fontanez Jr.
chef/owner of La Gumbo Ya Ya Food Truck in Oklahoma City
Father to: Elijah, 13; Gabbie, 11; Jeremiah, 9 months
What is your favorite thing about being a dad?
Getting to see the world and experience it through their eyes.
What have you learned or how have you changed since becoming a dad?
I hope that I’ve become more focused and a better role model. They are always watching us. I try to live by the philosophy to be the kind of man I want my sons to be and the kind of man I want my daughter to marry. I feel like I fall short of that all the time but that is what I am always working toward.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about fatherhood?
Love their mother. Being a good father means respecting the mother’s role in their lives. This is not one of those, “If mom ain’t happy” statements. It’s a genuine respect for the roles we each have in their lives. Our two oldest are from a previous marriage so to be a good father I have to respect mom. Our children will grow up and model what we do. My sons will treat their wives the way I treat their mom, and my daughter needs to understand how she needs to be treated or she could end up being confused as to how she should be treated. I try to take her on “dates” every now and then.
Did you learn anything from your own parents that’s helped you be a better dad?
My dad was absent when I was little and passed away when I was a teenager. My mom as a single mother had a hard time with us, but she taught me how to love. My dad was a well-liked man, and although he wasn’t around much, I have my own interpretation of him that I use in my decision-making. I know that he looks down on me and I think he is proud.
What do you think is the biggest mistake most dads make?
Mistaking the need to love their children for trying to make their kids like them. We are not their friends. We are their protectors, educators, role models. They have a lot of friends who are a lot cooler than us. I don’t pretend to be something I am not around my kids because if I did, it would be a lie. I want to be someone my kids can trust and respect. Parenting is not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
What is the best and/or worst Father’s Day gift you’ve ever received?
A few years ago, I got a card from my kids that had some really personal things written in it. That was the best present I’ve ever gotten from anyone in my life. I’ve not gotten a bad present yet, but my kids are still young.
What’s your proudest moment so far as a dad?
Because I lost my father so young, I treasure everything and there are so many. The most recent was when we went to Regional Food Bank for Rock and Box where they worked to sort food. That was a great moment. Our family has a real big heart for the homeless and that example has really come from my kids and my wife.
What are you most looking forward to about fatherhood?
Every smile, every tear, I just want to be there for as much of it as possible.
Damon Lane
35, lives in Moore and is a meteorologist at KOCO-TV
Father to: Avery, 14 weeks old
What is your favorite thing about being a dad?
My favorite thing is watching the expressions Avery has with the smallest of things. Everything in this world is magic to her.
What have you learned or how have you changed since becoming a dad?
Being a new dad means starting over with everything, and I find that to be a lot of fun.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received about fatherhood?
Don’t listen to those who tell you your life will change and you can’t have fun. If my life changed from what I like to do, then how would I be able to teach and show Avery the joys of travel? And skiing? It may take a few extra steps to plan a trip, but it doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy ourselves on the ski slopes or in another country.
Did you learn anything from your own parents that’s helped you be a better dad?
My mom and dad taught me differently. My mom taught me all the things I needed to know and how to make it to a good college and get good grades and choose a career. She pointed me in the direction early and made sure I never strayed. My dad taught me all the things college didn’t. He taught me how to buy a house, how to invest and what I need to be doing to retire.
What do you think is the biggest mistake most dads make?
Not taking enough pictures and videos of their kids. Everyone says “they grow up so fast.” Upgrade your phone and make sure you have a lot of memory on there. Take those pictures and record those videos. You’ll be glad you did.
What’s the best and/or worst Father’s Day gift you’ve ever received?
Well shucks, I haven’t gotten one yet. But when it was just me and the dogs, they were great at giving me licks and all those things dogs do to make you happy.
What’s your proudest moment so far as a dad?
Making eye contact the moment Avery was born and telling her within seconds of her first breath that no man would ever love her as much as I did right then.
What are you most looking forward to about fatherhood?
Teaching her what it takes to be an adult. I like to think that right now she’s an “adult in training.”
