Name: Dwayne Elliott | City: Old Hickory, TN | IG: @d_v_e
What does being a father mean to you?
Being a father means being there for your child and showing them that you love them and you support them in anything they do. Showing unconditional love and knowing they can count on you anytime.
Describe your experience with your father growing up and how that impacted you today.
I was blessed with an amazing father. He taught me how to be a man and how to respect women. He always taught me that no one is a stranger and it’s important to say hello to people you come in contact with. You never know what someone is going through and a simple hello and how are you doing can go a very long way for someone.
He was also supportive in all of my activities and never missed a game, concert or any extracurricular activities I was involved in while I was young.
What things did you take from your experience growing up into your own fatherhood journey?
Respect everyone. Be a hard worker and if you are on the job and you are finished with a task find something else to do and make yourself busy.
Respect your mother.
Have you had any obstacles on your fatherhood journey?
Just being too hard on my child sometimes. I just want the best out of her and sometimes I just need to lay off and know that no one is perfect and it’s okay to make mistakes.
What advice would you give others new on their fatherhood journey?
Enjoy and be present with your child. It’s an amazing experience and I am very thankful for the opportunity to be a father.
If you could write a quick letter to your father, starting with “Dear Father,” what would you say?
Dear Father, Thanks for all that you have done for me and I will always cherish my childhood and adulthood because you are a major contributor to my success.