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Triathlete Dad
Ryan McKelley, Wisconsin USA
From DADLY Dads: Parent of the 21st Century Copyright © 2018 Motivational Press. Reprinted with permission. By Hogan Hilling and Austin Dowd.
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I’m a dad of two daughters ages 4 and 10. I have been married for 15 years. I was an at-home dad with our older daughter during her first year.
I am now a licensed psychologist and professor of psychology. In my spare time, I enjoy adventure racing or competing in triathlons. I heard about this dad’s coffee table book project from Elisabeth Stitt’s (of Joyful Parenting Coaching) “Let’s Hear It for the Dads!” Summit.
Quote.
Ideas are clean. They soar in the serene supernal. I can take them out and look at them, they fit in books, they lead me down that narrow way. And in the morning they are there. Ideas are straight…But the world is round, and a messy mortal is my friend. Come walk with me in the mud.– Hugh Prather
What I do well as a dad.
I strive to be fully present when I am with my children, so they know they matter to me—no checking my phone or emails when we are playing or eating meals!
What I learned from another dad.
Make sure you don’t lose sight of the relationship with your wife in the day-to-day challenges of parenting. The best way to show your kids how to love is to love your spouse.
Lesson learned from my child.
Slow down and live in the moment with my kids. I tend to race through life.
Successful fatherhood moment.
A parent told me how much patience our older daughter has with helping other children. Even as young as six years old, friends jokingly asked if she could babysit their toddlers.
Dad I admire.
I admire my dad, Dennis, and the father of my best friend from college, Bill. They both model the importance of valuing family above all else.
After raising two successful children and retiring early, Bill is heavily involved in teaching children with special needs how to ski. I’ve had the pleasure of joining Bill’s family on vacations, and laughter is the dominant theme of every family get-together. It’s inspiring to see how he marinates his family and friends in joy.
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Originally published in DADLY Dads: Parent of the 21st Century Copyright © 2018 Motivational Press. Reprinted with permission.
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Photos courtesy of the author.
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