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Special fathers, special parenting

Submitted photo Ginger Bryant and her daddy, Haywood Hairston, Jr.

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Submitted photo (L-R): Ted, Sara and Kristi Loose on a worm finding expedition where Kristi is holding one.

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Our Time

My parents were very young when I was born. While I’m close to both parents, my daddy, Ken Jackson, and I share a special bond. When I was a toddler, my mom would play cards one night per month with her girlfriends and my daddy would stay home with me but he didn’t call it “baby-sitting.”

As I grew older, we would make peanut butter cookies on those nights. My daddy taught me that my job, making the fork prints in the cookies, was the most important part of making good peanut butter cookies.

I’ve always felt like I could talk to my dad about anything. He helped me work through the typical dramas of high school, college and young adulthood.

He taught me that working hard is important, but so is playing hard. For our 40th and 60th birthdays, we went to a working Montanta ranch for a week. It’s an experience I’ll cherish forever — not only for the wonderful horseback riding, but for the conversations we had in the car going to and from the ranch.

My dad is retired now, and just this morning, I met my dad for a ride on the bike trail. It’s critical for us to spend time together, just chatting and sharing. We talk about whatever’s on our minds, and we generally don’t share those conversations with anyone. It may mean one of us has to get up early; it may mean the other has to work late that evening. It doesn’t matter — it’s “our” time.

— Kimberly Jackson Kubik, Oakwood

Dad's Sacrifice

My husband and I have a 23-month-old little girl named Hailie. He is so tender and extremely gentle with our little girl and sings to her every night.

He has made many sacrifices for us in the last two years. Billy works two jobs up until he was laid off in February, he is going to school full time, and best of all, trying to manage time for us. I just wish he knew how important and how much I appreciate everything he is and does for us.

— Melinda Cox, Huber Heights

Going it alone

My father, Muriel Harrison, is a very special father. My mother died when I was 3 years old and my brother was 6. Our father was 27 and raised us as a single parent.

My dad taught my brother and I great morals and values that are still with both of today.

— Sabrina Harrison, Clayton

Soccer Dad

My husband is a soccer official in his spare time and has a great interest in the sport of soccer.

We have 3 children – ages 15, 12 and 8. Our oldest daughter, Kati, is also a soccer fan and Jim has mentored her to become a soccer official as well. She has been officiating for a full year now, often as an assistant on my husband’s games, and just recently officiated her first games as the head referee. She enjoys watching soccer with her dad. They often rewind plays and calls made by the official and discuss and debate the calls. They have a good relationship not only as father and daughter, but also as mentor and student. It’s fun to see the other side of their relationship and the love they share for the game of soccer.

Holly Molnar, Kettering

Sharing with Dad

Jim Rzecznik has been an intricate part of the lives of his children in spite of his hectic schedule working and traveling for the government.

He and two sons have been active in Indian Guides — they create, have get-togethers, learn from the fathers and camp. Jim is involved in the baseball league of both sons, being the assistant manager and score keeper for both the teams.

Never does he miss an evening meal — his sons discuss their activities of the day and get feedback from Dad. Little Cara Marie, the apple of Dad’s eye, runs to him when he comes home from work and carries her through the house on his shoulders.

Jim has taught his children the value of family, faith and country.

— Mary L. Diaspro, mother-in-law, Beavercreek

A Good Daddy

I go to school and work two jobs, so my husband, Donnie, is Mr. Mom. He cooks, he cleans, he takes care of our two daughters, ages 3 and 2. He even let them paint his toenails one time. That’s a good daddy!

— Amanda Thomas, Dayton

Gift of Life

I have always been close to my dad, Jon Gentry, but this year has brought us closer than ever. This past March my father was suffering from kidney failure and was placed on dialysis. I decided to donate a kidney to my father in March.

Since the surgery my dad and I joke about my kidney. I love my father and wanted to give him a chance to live a long life.

— Chelsea Gentry, Miami Twp.

Enriching Experiences

Steve Langemo is both a full-time dad and a full-time worker — a musician and guitar instructor. Some weeks he is gone every night for rehearsals or gigs. He may come in at 2 a.m. and then get up with 3-year-old Zoe at 7 a.m. He has done this for three years seamlessly. No matter how tired he is, he is an incredibly patient, laid-back, and fun dad.

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