Our 685th Dad in the Limelight is Dan Moyle of Interview Valet and Talons Out Honor Flight. I want to thank Dan Moyle for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Dan Moyle 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 Dan Moyle and I’m a blended family dad with 2 daughters – a bio & a bonus. My faith is a marker of who I am – I’m a Christian first, a husband second and a dad third. I’m also a biker.
I’m in the limelight thanks to two things: my career and my volunteering. I am in marketing with Amerifirst and have made somewhat of a name for myself in the world of inbound marketing. I’m fortunate enough to get to speak at events for marketing to help businesses and other marketers embrace the revolution of inbound. In my personal life, I volunteer with Talons Out Honor Flight, as we honor our World War II and Korean War veterans with all-expense paid trips to Washington, D.C. to visit their memorials.
2) Tell me about your family
I’m blessed with a wife and 2 daughters. My wife Sonya completes the partnership and the yin to my yang. Our oldest is my biological daughter from my first marriage. Our youngest is Sonya’s biological (my stepdaughter). However, I consider both of them “my girls.” And yes, they’re as opposite as night and day, yet get along well on complement each other in many ways. They’re in their pre-teen years right now, so I’m preparing for an interesting time – and looking forward to watching them grow into wonderful young women.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
My biggest challenge as a father is balancing the blended family life. Whether it’s negotiating how two households operate and keeping things consistent, or working through the life of a divorced dad without affecting my daughter, it’s a challenge. I wouldn’t trade my family for anything – I think we work through it all together quite well. Fortunately, we rely on our faith and that’s a big help. It’s not easy though.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
Love. Love your children in the way they need it. Love their mother – even if she’s not your wife, she’s their mom. Show her love and compassion. Love your wife so you can live as an example to your children. Love your neighbor, love others. If we’re ever to change the world, it’s through loving those around us. Sometimes it’s tough love – sometimes it’s compassion and empathy. But when faced with a challenge, I try to ask myself how I can show love in the situation.
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
I think the idea of a balanced life is interesting. There are days when I nail it as a dad. There are days I have to miss a kid’s event because of a volunteer commitment. And there are days when I just want to saddle up on my Harley and ride off for some alone time. My hope is that I’m able to make those daily choices the best way possible for my family. I find myself happy to sacrifice the “fun” times I used to have in favor of family time, so I don’t feel as though I’ve lost anything. The balance comes when I’m able to still have a little selfish time in order to re-center myself and be the best husband/dad I can be for my family. As for the volunteering and other events, keeping it all in the family helps. My wife and daughters volunteer with Honor Flight with me. It’s important to me to give back together.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
I’m blessed to have some great dads around me. From my own father to the friends in my church, I have great examples. From them I’ve learned to take time to listen to my kids, to tell them “I love you” often, to share in their interests and to tuck them in at night. From my own dad, I’ve learned to pass along my knowledge of life skills and to tell them how proud I am of them.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
Life moves fast. We all need to take time enjoy each stage with our children as they’re happening. Wishing for the next milestone makes us miss the amazing experiences happening right in front of us. Each stage is my next favorite, and I love taking the time to enjoy each one.
8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
My first most memorable experience as a dad was the birth of my daughter. Being there for her entry into the world was amazing. Seeing her birth, cutting the cord and being able to tell her mom “It’s a girl” will be something I’ll never forget.
Another memorable experience is when my youngest told me about a friend who called me her fake dad. She was very upset and told me that I’m her real parent; a stepparent isn’t any less of a parent than any other. She was very proud to call “her” Dan one of her parents.
If you have any questions for Dan Moyle, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!
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