I thought it would be fun to get the lowdown on fatherhood from some celebrity dads. I always like hearing what dads are thinking. You can never tell with men until they say what it is!) And well, you know, we all love celebrities! So I hope you enjoy these exclusive interviews with famous dads.
How Fatherhood Changes Lives Even For Famous Fathers
Here is what three celebrity dads have to say about becoming a dad and getting used to parenthood.
Cedric Boswell- Heavy Weight Boxing Champion
Even Heavy Weight Boxing Champion, Cedric Boswell, has a softer side! Check him out of Facebook, I love the photo with all the belts!
How has being a father changed your life?
First of all being a parent showed me how to love and how to be loved, I never knew that I was capable to love so hard. It changed my life as far as patience. I am learning the right things to say and when to say them. It taught me not to be selfish and that their needs always come first. It taught me to be stronger in life because they depend on me to to take care of them.
What is your favorite part about being a parent?
My favorite part of being a parent is to be able to do for them and see the beautiful smile come on there face when they see me first thing in the morning or when they come home from school or to hear them tell me “Daddy I love you”.
What is the most challenging part of being a parent?
My most challenging part of being a dad is making sure I have enough of them (kids) time. I think that’s important for bonding. By me being a boxer, the hardest thing is being away from my family from six to eight weeks at a time and missing out on so many great things and missing them so much.
How do you think being a celebrity parent is different from being a regular every day parent?
For me it’s different because I have more free time sometimes so I can do more things with them. I can be selfish and keep the little one that’s in daycare home sometimes and have him all to myself. The older one I can surprise him and come to his class and pick him up…he always likes that. I think just being a parent period is the best thing that God could have given. It’s therapy for me because it always puts life in Check!
Ernie Halter- singer/songwriter
Ernie Halter, a singer/songwriter from California, makes records and has been touring since 2005 with a very loyal following, thanks to word of mouth and the internet. His latest record “Franklin & Vermont” debuted at #2 on the iTunes Singer Songwriter Chart! His profile on Twitter (@erniehalter) is approaching half a million followers! He is also the proud father of a 3yr old boy and 8 week old twin girls. You can stalk him at ErnieHalter.com
How has being a father changed your life?
Before kids I used to travel almost non-stop. I still travel for work but have had to become much more selective about the career choices I make and how long I’m away from home. I’ve also become more patient, loving, responsible, financially stable, and I quit drinking. In other words, I grew up a lot.
What is your favorite part about being a parent?
My favorite part of being a dad is getting being reborn into the world and experiencing it in a whole new way. The joy of seeing the look on my 3yr olds face the first time I played him Sgt Peppers. For weeks he played it non stop and wanted to tell everybody about this new band from England called The Beatles. Priceless.
What is the most challenging part of being a parent?
Finding enough hours in the day!
How do you think being a celebrity parent is different from being a regular every day parent?
Really, it’s not that different. I’m well known but at the same time still under the radar. However, when my 3 yr old recently saw photos of me in OK Magazine with Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez at one of my shows, he started calling me Ernie Halter for a week. Thankfully we’re back to “Daddy” again.
Greg Schwem- comedian
Greg Schwem is a 22-year standup comedy veteran. He performs his show, Comedy With a Byte, for Fortune 500 corporations and large business associations. The Chicago Tribune recently called him “king of the hill in the world of corporate comedy.” Hi is also the author of Text Me If You’re Breathing: Observations, Frustrations and Life Lessons From a Low-Tech Dad. He has been married for 18 years (it is true that women like funny men!) and has two daughters.
How has being a father changed your life?
Obviously being a parent changes your life because it makes you shift your priorities and focus more on your family and your kids. Entertainers, particularly comedians, tend to be very self centered since the focus is always on them when they work. It’s also very easy to become lazy when you are an entertainer. You work strange hours, can sleep late and don’t have a boss to answer to. When I got married and had kids, I took on a whole new set of responsibilities. I wanted my wife to be a stay at home mom if she chose to. She did make that choice so comedy is what pays the electric bill, the mortgage and the grocery tab. That’s all the incentive I need!
What is your favorite part about being a parent?
I love being a Dad because of all the experiences that come with it. Coaching Little League, cheering on your kids from the sidelines, watching them succeed (and sometimes fail) and, sadly, watching them grow up too quickly.
What is the most challenging part of being a parent?
For me, the most challenging part is always wondering if I am spending enough time with them. Because I travel, I’m not always there for games, dances, etc. However, my kids know that, if I’m not around, there is a good reason for it. It has helped them see that they can’t always be the top priority (sometimes work comes first!) I’ve seen parents absolutely freak out and beat themselves up because they have missed a single soccer game, never mind that there are about 25 games left on the schedule. I think kids need to realize that Mom and Dad have lives too.
How do you think being a celebrity parent is different from being a regular every day parent?
I don’t think I am a “celebrity,” per se, but my job has come with some perks. For example, my kids have been to Disney World more times than should be legally allowed since I often perform shows in Orlando. Heck, I think they are on a first name basis with the people who run Space Mountain. However, because I am somewhat in the public eye, there are challenges. I do not post pictures of my kids on my website or social networking page just because I don’t want someone to have access to those photos. (The Internet is a scary place these days) If the day comes when I become well known, I don’t want the photos out there. Of course my daughter has her own Facebook account, including about 150 photos of herself but hey, I did my part!
Thanks to these celeb dads for taking the time to answer my questions.
Famous Dad Quotes
“Any fool can have a child. That doesn’t make you a father. It’s the courage to raise a child that makes you a father.” -Barak Obama
“The strongest, toughest men all have compassion. They’re not heartless and cold. You have to be man enough to have compassion—to care about people and about your children.”
-Denzel Wasington
“I’ve gotten to jump out of helicopters and do daring stunts and play baseball in a professional stadium, but none of them mean anything compared to being somebody’s daddy.”
-Chris Pratt
“I feel that the greatest gift that I can give my children is the freedom to be who they are.”
-Will Smith
I hope you had as much fun reading about these celebrity dads and their adventures in parenthood as I did! Share your thoughts on how fatherhood has changed your life in the comments section.
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