Our 703rd Dad in the Limelight is author of the Middle School Rules book series, Sean Jensen, I want to thank Sean Jensen for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing Sean Jensen with all of you.
1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)
I’m the author of a relatively new children’s book series, The Middle School Rules. I tell the inspirational childhood stories of famous athletes, and I’ve been fortunate to work with Bears legends Brian Urlacher and Charles Tillman, and WNBA superstar Skylar Diggins. In a former life, I covered the NFL for major newspapers and websites and appeared on a lot of national radio and television shows.
Find out more about the book series on the series website
2) Tell me about your family
When I headed to Northwestern University, I planned to graduate with a degree in journalism, become a foreign correspondent and not think about a serious relationship until I was 40 years old. Naturally, I met the woman of my dreams during my freshman year, and we’ve been together ever since. Instead of covering war zones, I covered mixed zones at two Olympics and most major NFL games and events for 15 years. My wife Erica and I have two children, Elijah and Zarah, and we make our home in a suburb of Minneapolis. We are active in our church, at our kids’ school, and I coach them in soccer.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
Elijah is my first born, and I was inspired by I Want to Be Just Like You, a song by Phillips, Craig and Dean, a music trio composed of three pastors. I’ve heard it countless times, and the lyrics always get me, especially the chorus:
Lord, I want to be just like You
‘Cause he wants to be just like me
I want to be a holy example
For his innocent eyes to see
Help me be a living Bible, Lord
That my little boy can read
I want to be just like You
‘Cause he wants to be like me
I am a hot mess – something my wife can attest to – in many ways. Lots of character flaws, lots of baggage. Yet I yearn to set a good example for my children, and they constantly inspire me to become a better man. My son shares some of my traits and tendencies, which scares the daylights out of me but motivates me to keep supporting him, encouraging him and challenging him to become the man God designed him to be.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
My fatherhood motto is, “I can’t be a perfect parent, but I can be a present one.”
I know Jesus… and I’m not him. Therefore, I am imperfect, so I show myself grace and ask for grace from my children. I am not afraid to apologize to them if I am impatient, if I raise my voice or if I forget to do something they asked me to do. Likewise, your children are also not perfect, so show them grace and embrace their failures and mistakes as teachable moments. But it’s hard to see those opportunities if you’re not around.
5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?
A: Several years ago, I deconstructed my average week, searching for insight into what truly are my priorities, based on how I spent those 168 hours. I wrestled with how to reconcile the fact that I couldn’t commit the most time to my faith, especially since I wasn’t planning to become a pastor or teacher at a Christian school. What I did, however, was to make the hours for developing my faith the most important hours of my week, followed by time for my kids, wife and friends. So when my son was starting kindergarten, the 30-minute drive to and from school were a priority, though I spent more time working.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
I have learned that there are more good fathers than the world – and the media – would have you believe. We are not incompetent. We do know how to change diapers, give baths, wash clothes, comfort a sick child. Yet we also know how to wrestle, throw a football, pretend to eat from a pink plate loaded with a hot dog, waffle and egg like it’s a meal from a five-star steakhouse.
I know lots of rock star dads, who inspire me and encourage me. And if you don’t, well, find some new friends.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
Maddening, electrifying, exhausting, all at once.
But here’s the secret I share with soon-to-be fathers: Revel in the mundane. It’s not about the Disney Cruise to Alaska for a week, or the 10-day safari in Kenya (though those things sure sound awesome!). Find joy in the simple things like eating dinner at home, as a family, even if it’s boxed mac-and-cheese and stir-fried chicken, or going on a walking to a nearby playground, or playing a board game on a lazy Saturday morning.
A few years ago, we had an amazing summer: Kids Choice Awards in Los Angeles, fun-filled trip to Chicago and another pretty sweet trip, of which I already have forgotten the details of. And yet on the first day of school, my son’s new teacher asked him for his summer highlight.
He mentioned a Christian family camp – the one with no air conditioning, limited Wi-Fi and billions of mosquitoes.
8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
I’ll never forget being in two different hospitals for the birth of my children. The glow of my wife, the comfort of their little fist squeezing my finger, the pride, honor and sheer gratitude that God has entrusted these precious gifts into my care. I relish our “traditions,” like the special bedtime songs I sing each of them, the favorite books we’ve read dozens and dozens of times, and the daddy-daughter dates to the American Girl Cafe and daddy-son outings to ball games.
I remember the many milestones, as well as the instances when they surprised themselves by accomplishing something through commitment and hard work.
My son memorized all the books of the Bible – Old and New Testaments – through a song. And my then 3 ½ year old daughter started to pick up on it. She struggled midway through… but my son helped his sister and practiced with her in the car and in our home for a few days. Then that moment when she rattled off all the books… Well the look on her face and his face was priceless.
If you have any questions for Sean Jensen, 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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