Name: Paul Willmon, DC
Occupation: Owner, Fairfield Chiropractic
Kids: Reese, Mayeli, Sofie, Mateo, Parker and Reagan
Did you feel prepared to be a dad? Anyone who feels prepared to be a dad is fooling themselves. I have to grow this baby into a functioning adult? I can’t even keep plants alive!
What does it mean to be a father? It means every day modeling for your children the type of person you want them to be.
What are your favorite activities to do with your kids? I love discussing religion and politics and life with the older kids. With our little kids, I love playing chase and “ride a horsey.”
What’s your favorite dad joke of all time? My favorite joke is one I use all the time at my house. When my kids ask, “Dad, can you put my shoes on?” I respond with, “I would, but I don’t think they’ll fit me.” This always gets a strong eye roll from my wife.
Name: Bryan Flores
Occupation: Owner, head instructor at Prestige Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Kids: Bryan Jr. and Brandon
What do you wish to teach your children? Being their Jiu-Jitsu coach, teaching them to be able to defend themselves is a priority. More importantly, I hope to teach them that discipline and hard work in everything they do in life will take them further than just talent alone.
What’s your best advice for a soon-to-be dad? Make the most of every moment with your kids when they are young. When they get older, you’ll wish you could go back in time to when they were babies and toddlers. I DO!
Tell us three words to describe fatherhood. Protector, blessed and selfless.
Name: Shane Wallace
Occupation: Police sergeant and criminal justice professor
Kids: Abigail, Blake and Noah
Do you think becoming a dad changed you? Absolutely. You develop more patience, you bond more with your spouse, and you receive unconditional love. Having your child give you a hug or a kiss at the end of a rough day can make the stress melt away. Hearing them say, “I love you” or “thank you” can make all the work and sacrifice of being a parent worth it in an instant.
What does it mean to be a father? Fatherhood is leading with love, guiding with love, showing the way with love, trying to be an example that your kids want to live up to. It is about teaching them to learn from their mistakes but not to be afraid to make them.
What do you wish to teach your children? I want all my children to always be humble and kind. I want them to behave as if their mother or I were watching them. Chase your dreams and live for today.
Name: Justin Hernandez
Occupation: Eighth grade boys teacher, Klein Alternative Education Center
Kids: Grace
What are your favorite activities to do with Grace? One of my favorite things to do with Grace is to hang out in our garage gym and watch her try to imitate my workout. So far, she’s learned situps and how to lift a three-pound dumbbell. She’s now working on burpees.
What do you enjoy most about being a dad? The love and affection my daughter shows me every day. I enjoy hearing her say new words and conquer new obstacles on the playground. I’m proud of every little achievement that she makes knowing that my daughter is growing into her own person right before my eyes.
What do you wish to teach your daughter? When life gets hard, do not give up. Forge onward. By doing so, you will learn to be self-reliant and strong.