Our 640th Dad in the Limelight is Justin Bechtold. I want to thank Justin Bechtold for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Justin Bechtold 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 Justin Bechtold and I am the 1978 NSW regional ‘design-a-stamp’ winner for my colored pencil depiction of a kookaburra sitting on a tree branch with a snake it’s mouth. Since then, I grew hair on my chest (which I no doubt lost from my head), and became an actor, stand-up comedian, screenwriter and HomeDad. You can spy on me here at 40YrOldDad.com or my comedy site .
2) Tell me about your family
My wife is an extraordinary drama teacher who has influenced the lives of thousands of aspiring teenage actors, and somehow fell for my childish charms on the set of a short film we did together. 
We got married in the Elvis Presley Wedding Chapel in Vegas and after 10 years of failed IVF treatments and miscarriages, we moved to Bali for 6 months and fell pregnant naturally with our son, Indy, at the ripe old ‘middle-age’ of 40. A couple years later, we were blessed with our daughter, Alice and although we were completely delighted and surprised at the notion of a second ‘miracle’ child, the first phone call I made when we found out was to a Vasectomy clinic. I love being a 40YrOldDad with toddlers at home, I don’t fancy being a 50YrOldDad with toddlers at home. Thank you, very much.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
Sleep deprivation is probably the biggest challenge…and self-medicating with wine and dark chocolate probably doesn’t help, either. I don’t know how zombie’s do it but….zzzzz
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
If you see smoke coming from your nether-regions during a vasectomy procedure, don’t look down. That, and also, don’t be afraid to swallow your pride and look like a total dumbass. Sure, you might get weird looks or comments from people who’d never seen a grown pirate in the super market or danced the Wiggles greatest hits in an outdoor dining experience before, but those people don’t get to see the sheer and utter delight in your children’s eyes when you do.
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
It’s tricky, but when my wife and I first got together we made a deal to never compromise. Compromise means to give up one thing for something else. Instead, we agreed to do whatever it takes to do ‘this’ as well as ‘that’, instead of ‘this’ instead of ‘that’. It means we have to be more creative in our thinking and might mean we have to take the foot off the pedal slightly, but we never hit the breaks. We always encourage each other (and our kids), to go after what we want and support each other in doing that, instead of giving up on something entirely.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
That having two kids is not twice the work as having one kid as they say…it’s four times the work. That even though we come in all shapes, sizes and ages, we’re all going through the same thing. I feel fortunate to have the greatest support group of dad’s in the Aussie Daddy Bloggers community, who band together for one another in times of need, who understand what you’re going through or where you’re coming from and do their utmost to make you feel supported. Trust me, these guys have gone above and beyond the call whenever a mate is in trouble. They’re the best.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
Of all the amazing experiences and things I’ve been a part of or accomplished in my life, nothing has more meaning, is more satisfying or is more important to me than chocolate…I mean, my family. I’m really grateful I’ve been fortunate enough to experience raising my own family, the rewards I experience from their tiny faces and antics is beyond anything I could ever articulate. Especially when they bring me chocolate.
8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
Seeing my son open his eyes for the very first time and just lock onto mine for a full minute when he was born was literally, love at first sight. Secondly, I had absolutely no idea how much of my life would be taken up by the topic of ‘poo’. Feeling my daughter flop onto me and squeeze me round the neck for the first time ever in her life and of course, seeing how beautiful my wife looks when she smiles at our kids.
If you have any questions for Justin Bechtold, 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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