Name: Wesley “DJ Exeqtive” | City: Brooklyn, NY | IG: @DJExeqtive

What does being a father mean to you?

To me being a Father means being a role model. Showing my kids that I’ll always be there to protect, provide, teach and lead them in the right direction, so they can do them same when they have their kids.

Describe your experience with your father growing up and how that impacted you today.

The experience with my father growing up was great. He was very supportive in everything that I wanted to do from basketball, to track, to becoming a DJ. He also was hard on me when he felt I wasn’t doing my best. He worked so hard and made sure that we were able to travel as a  family multiple times a year. Having my dad around showed me the importance of being involved in my kids lives, not just as a role model and protector, but someone who will be their support system.

What things did you take from your experience growing up into your own fatherhood journey?

I feel one of the things I’ve learned from my experiences growing up and leading into my own fatherhood journey with 3 kids, is that you have to learn the differences in your children. Each of your kids are different and will deal with things differently. Once you learn that, it makes it easier to deal with any situations that may arise.

Have you had any obstacles on your fatherhood journey?

I would say two obstacles I’ve had as a father is being hard on my kids and learning how to congratulate first then tell them what they can improve on, if anything, after. Also finding the balance between work and family time.

What advice would you give others new on their fatherhood journey?

Advice I would give to  new fathers is to enjoy being a father, it’s not a job, it’s a privilege. Spend time with your children and enjoy being together. Once I realized that I was working to the point where my kids wouldn’t see me for days at a time, something that I had to tell myself is that I  won’t get this time back.

If you could write a quick letter to your father, starting with “Dear Father,” what would you say?

Dear father thank you for always being there for me even to today. Showing me that hard work and consistency will pay off in the long run and that you will appreciate things more when you work for it. Lastly family is the most important thing of all!

Interested in joining our Fearless Father campaign? Click here.

Purchase our exclusive “I Dad Different” shirt today. USE CODE: DIFFERENT at check out. Click here to buy now.