Father’s Day is June 16, a time to honor the dads, stepdads and grandads in our lives and offer our gratitude for the sacrifice and devotion they show our families. We interviewed some local fathers and grandfathers to learn more about what that role means to them.
Father and a Pastor
Josh Walters, executive pastor at Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant, has helped raise seven children along with his wife, Katie. Their kids (four girls and three boys) range in age from 3-20. All their names begin with the letter ‘A’: Abel, Abigal, Adele, AnnaJaye, Anthem, Ari and Asher.
Both Josh and Katie, who married during their senior year of college, grew up with friends who were one of seven siblings, and both wanted seven children of their own.
“We thought it would be cool to have a big family,” said Josh. The ‘A’ theme of naming their kids was not an original intent. AnnaJaye was inspired by a similar name, they loved that Abigal meant “raising joy,” and they liked the name Abel. After three children though, the realization dawned. “We felt locked in at that point,” recounted Josh. “It was kind of an accidental ‘A’ team.”
With respect to balancing work and fatherhood, Josh stated that “every large family is different.” Some of their friends with big families have their kids play the same sports or do similar activities. Josh and Katie each grew up with one sibling and felt blessed to pursue their own interests. Thus, they have supported their kids’ independence in every aspect of their lives from sports and other pursuits to getting ready for school in the morning. Still, it’s a hectic lifestyle. “It’s a lot of running around,” noted Josh.
The Walters convene a family huddle each week to plan practices and projects and write schedules on a master calendar. Practices always end at slightly different times so each day involves figuring out which parent has the margin to go where. Their kids also understand there are boundaries, and they can’t do everything. A major part of how they manage is through a tribe of friends and family who assist when needed.
“We can’t be at every event or game,” acknowledged Josh. “It’s a tradeoff. But we prioritize the big things.”
What Josh loves most about being a father starts with being a husband and building the culture of their home and shaping their kids’ values and vision. There are things he does well, but he recognizes there are areas where he needs improvement. He tends to be task-focused and project-focused, but less adept in relationship dynamics. Katie helps him work toward being the dad he wants to be. Josh’s dad was a marine and an “awesome dad” who he described as a “tender-hearted, kind, loving man.” However, he wasn’t around a lot. “I’m doing my best to be present,” asserted Josh. “I’m trying to embody his best qualities.”
A Proud Grandpa
Joe Odierna, a Dunes West resident and the surrogate grandfather to Sophie Rose, said the precocious 12-year-old is a wonderful, smart young lady. The proud grandpa, who typically gets to see her about every 10 days, raved that she is extremely intelligent, sweet and loving.
Like any 12-year-old, she spends her fair share of time on an iPad, but she still engages in other activities with her grandparents. Just this past March, Odierna watched Sophie and a group of her friends doing an Easter egg coloring day. During the warmer months, Odierna and Sophie enjoy swimming together in the Odiernas’ pool and playing water games.
To Odierna, being a grandfather means the almost unquestioned or unconditional love of a grandchild. “As a grandfather, you’re just there for fun. To have a grandchild who is so sharp is just extra special.”
Odierna related how Sophie likes to pat him on the head as if to say, ‘you’re alright.’ He added that it has been pleasant watching her grow and progress. Odierna believes she is destined to accomplish great things. “Sophie is just terrific in so many ways,” gushed Odierna. “Someday she’s going to be famous.”
A Dad and a Gamer
Ethan Levy lives in Carolina Park with his wife and four children aged 8, 6, 3 and 15 months. He helps run a video game studio. Levy admitted that managing the demands of a business and a big family is “incredibly difficult.” He considers himself fortunate though because he has the flexibility to work remotely, and his main business partner has three kids of their own and appreciates that family must be prioritized.
“I’m privileged,” Levy said. “The key is communicating and scheduling with my wife.”
Levy said he must plan ahead for critical meetings. As he pointed out, “when you have four children under 10, there is something that happens every day.” So balancing work stress and family stress can be a challenge. Most of his days are spent working until dinner and family time in the evenings, followed by helping the kids get to bed. Then he often goes back to work after 9 p.m.
One unique part of his job is that it allows him to stay connected to his childhood and relate to his kids. “I wouldn’t work in video games if I didn’t love gaming and embracing my inner child,” said Levy. He relishes doing anything with his children that involves play and imagination, from building Legos or playing “Super Mario” on the Nintendo Switch, to reading or making up stories.
Recently, Levy has found joy in sharing a particular aspect of his childhood with his kids: his passion for the alternative rock band They Might Be Giants. The group has released a series of children’s music educational albums in addition to their original adult music. Nothing brings a bigger smile to his face than singing a classic TMBG song such as “Particle Man” and his children liking it so much that they request it by name. “I sing different songs during bedtime and my kids love it,” enthused Levy.
While it’s nice to have a special day to celebrate fathers, stepfathers and grandfathers, let’s remember to acknowledge them throughout the year for the impact they have on our families and the important role they play in our lives.
By Colin McCandless
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