Our 812th Dad in the Limelight is freelance writer and food blogger, Daniel Waldman. I want to thank Daniel Waldman for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Daniel Waldman 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 Daniel Waldman and I’m a freelance writer and food blogger at Eat French Club. I’m also an expat, living in western France with my wife, my step-daughter and my daughter. We moved here in August 2016, mostly to be closer to my wife’s family (she’s from Paris originally). I’ve really enjoyed living abroad, though I definitely get home sick from time to time. I just feel lucky that I have had this opportunity. In addition to freelancing and blogging, I’m also an aspiring novelist, and have had a short story published.
2) Tell me about your family
I’ve been married for 14 years, but my wife and I have known each other for 20 years. I’m the proud step-father of a 21 year old young woman and an 11 year old daughter. We’re a very tightknit group and we do a lot together. We make a point to have family dinner almost every night, and on the weekends we like to do outdoorsy stuff—go on picnics, go kayaking, go hiking, or just walking around town. We also LOVE to eat out and travel as much as possible. We spent a week in Spain, where we basically spent our time eating and sitting on the beach.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
My youngest daughter is really growing up fast, and I’m not always emotionally equipped or patient enough to handle what she’s going through. I’m also really good at putting my foot in my mouth (I’ve had a lifetime to practice).
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
Don’t worry too much about making mistakes. There’s no doubt you’re going to make them. Just learn from them as quickly as you can, and work hard to always be better.
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
I’m not sure I’m so good at this. At least during football season I get out and go to the pub to watch most games. I also love running, but I never get out as much as I’d like to.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
There’s all kinds of dads out there, and there’s not just one approach to parenting. Also, it’s been pretty neat meeting other dads who are very different from me in terms of background, personality and interests, people I probably wouldn’t have the opportunity to interact with otherwise.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
I’ve had the benefit of being a step-dad before being a dad to my own daughter. That taught me a lot about what it means to care for a raising a kid. But I’m still learning!
8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
This is hard because there’s been so many. But probably the moment I’ll remember forever is when my daughter was first born, I got to hold her before my wife did (it was a C-section and she was knocked out). I’ll never forget how she opened her eyes and looked at me. It was possibly the most powerful experience of my life.
If you have any questions for Daniel Waldman, 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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