Our 833th Dad in the Limelight is Arthur Hairston. I want to thank Arthur Hairston for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Arthur Hairston with all of you.
1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)
Hey, I’m Arthur. I split my time between being a behavior therapist, a full time Dad and Husband. I find time to blog at Dad and Me about fatherhood in hopes to inspire the next generations of fathers. You can follow my life as a dad on IG @dadandme904.
2) Tell me about your family
I have one daughter who is currently 1 month old. I am married to the love of my life Shanita. This May will make 3 years of marriage for us.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
The biggest challenge being a father is balancing work, the Gym (I want to stay in shape) and school (In school working towards certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analysis) while being there for my daughter. Having a newborn causes your sleeping patterns to adjust to theirs and I’m slowly adjusting.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
Enjoy every moment as a father. Even if it seems like a not so good moment, you will be able to laugh back it in the future. Being present is the most important thing you can do. It’s nothing like seeing your baby smile at you even when you changing a diaper that smells like sewage.
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
I balance parenthood and outside life through scheduling. Communicating my schedule with my wife is so important so we can make sure that we get out the house. I am fortunate to have my in-laws live in the same city as us, so it makes it easy to have a baby sitter. Having a schedule and making plans ahead of time makes life easy. Having a baby changes thing so the better you plan ahead the more successful you can be at getting outside the house to enjoy sometimes with friends are just have “me” time.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
I have learned to not be afraid to reach out and ask questions. Prior to having my baby I never changed a diaper so it was pretty cool to watch them change their kids diaper so I had an idea of what that was going to be like. Never be afraid to reach out and ask any questions you may have. I’ve also learned to keep date night a priority. Even with a kid you have to have that social part of your life still intact.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
Fatherhood is a feeling like none other. I see things in a different light and plan ahead for the things I want my daughter to do and experience. Find laughter in things that aren’t so funny. I’ve learned to just laugh when I get pooped on while changing a diaper. I blog about my experience as a father centered around faith, finance, fitness, and fun at https://ahairst3.wixsite.com/dadandme
8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
The most memorable experience I have had is when my daughter cries and I’m able to pick her up, she holds on to my chest and falls to sleep. I can’t put into words how that makes me feel, but it motivates me more to want to give the world to her.
If you have any questions for Arthur Hairston, 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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The post Dads in the Limelight – Arthur Hairston of Dad and Me appeared first on Dad of Divas.