Dads in the Limelight – Daditude Coach Christopher Veal
Our 642nd Dad in the Limelight is Daditude Coach, Christopher Veal. I want to thank Christopher Veal for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Christopher Veal with all of you.
1. Tell me about yourself. (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)
I’ve worn many hats in my days; from 9 years as an Infantry Officer in the Marines, to working in the private and public sector, and a lot of stops in between. I’m currently working as the Organizational Development & Training Manager for the Orange County Fire Authority, I’m a Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) and maintain a coaching practice as the Daditude Coach. (www.daditudecoach.com) I’m passionate about helping others (men and women) craft their own legacies and make an impact on the world, and I’m also passionate about advocating for engaged fatherhood. That’s one of the reasons I was at the Dad 2.0 Summit in 2016.
2. Tell me about your family.
I am married, and my wife and I have a daughter who is six going on 13. Oy vay.
3. What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
I was raised by a single mother, and didn’t really have a solid role model of what a father was or should be. My challenge became understanding who I wanted to be as a father, since the fathers I saw on television and in the movies were often portrayed as bumbling or distant, and I knew that wasn’t what I wanted to be. Every day is an opportunity to learn, and keeping that sense of adventure has been very helpful in my growth as a father.
4. What advice would you give to other fathers?
Dive in, right from day one. Recognize that mothers and fathers do parenting differently, and our children need that. Remember that the human race hasn’t survived this long because moms know it all…as a dad you have a lot to contribute. I took six weeks off when our daughter was born, and wish I could have taken more. That time was key for me in developing my confidence as a father and being able to care for our daughter.
5. How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
It’s a matter of keeping focus and setting that balance as a priority. Because I had an absent father growing up, I knew I wanted to be involved and engaged for my daughter. As a result, I’ve approached external commitments with an awareness of the impact on my family. It doesn’t mean I never do anything that will take me away from spending time with my family, I’m simply more conscious of those decisions and weigh the cost more carefully before choosing. I can always find another job; I’ve only got this one family we’ve created.
6. What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
Dads are more engaged and involved than they’ve ever been, and sometimes we get beat up in society as a result. I’ve stopped counting the number of times I’ve been out somewhere with my daughter and a woman will ask me if I’m babysitting my daughter. A previous employer of mine had a very male-heavy workforce, and the kinds of comments I heard when talking about taking time off to care for my daughter would make you cringe. I think the more that dads share their experiences and understand that a lot of us want to be more engaged and involved, it will help others feel supported and wanting to step up and become more involved.
7. What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
Be present. It can be easy to get caught up in work, our smart phones and computers, and the myriad of other things clamoring to get our attention. Make sure you set aside quality time with your children, free from external distractions. Some days are harder than others, yet I do my best. I want my daughter to remember me for the memories we’ve created together rather than the things I bought her.
8. What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
This is a hard one, there have been so many. I think what stands out most for me is witnessing her development and journey into becoming her own person. Seeing her personality blossom and being there as she continues to explore and discover her world is a great gift.
If you have any questions for Christopher Veal, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!
——————————————————————————————-
New to the Divadom?
Please Subscribe to my RSS Feed! Subscribe in a reader
Questions?Drop me a line at dadofdivas@gmail.com
The post Dads in the Limelight – Daditude Coach Christopher Veal appeared first on Dad of Divas.