Jun 17, 2020

What Does Being A Dad Mean To You...

Meet Scott McDonald and Chris Pigott, our two resident Tuck Shop dads. Scott is father to Riley, Trip and Evelyn, while Poppy, Blake, and Willa call Chris dad. In honour of Father's Day we decided to ask these two what being a father means to them, and to share some of their favourite parental memories!

Q: What does being a father mean to you?

Scott-

Having children changes everything in your life overnight and deepens the sense of purpose that drives you. Fatherhood draws out a creative force inside of you. It awakens something innate and profound. The immediacy of your own life takes a back seat. You now have a little creature dependent on you entirely for all of their essentials of life, hungry for knowledge and guidance on how best to navigate this big world.

You inherit an inter-generational legacy from your parents and pass it down as best you can, adding dimensions of depth from your own life...passions, proclivities and lessons you have learned yourself the hard way. You distill it all down as best you can during the fleeting moments you get with your kids to share laughter and joy before they soon outgrow their nest and take flight on their own. It is a lot of work to be parent. But when your son says, "Dada, tell me more about black holes and gravity," or your daughter looks at you with big, glowing eyes and says, "Dada, I love you infinitely," your heart melts, as does all the hard-work, boo-boo's, sweat and tears to get to those moments.

Chris-

The writer Calvin Trillin said it best: "Your children are either the centre of your life or they're not, and the rest is commentary."

What is a favourite memory or moment that you've experienced as a dad?

Scott-

On a pretty regular basis my whole family plays this game where they hide behind the sofa and under a blanket as I walk in the front door. Invariably my 1 year old, totally unwilling to grasp the silence needed to remain hidden, will start crawling out from under the blanket and give away their position as the rest of them jump up yelling, "Surprise!" That brings unbelievable joy every-time and makes coming home always the highlight of my workday.

Chris-

My favourite moment is one that hasn't happened yet but that I anticipate everyday: changing the VARY LAST DIAPER (as Hamlet lamented: "what dreams may come..."). But also one must live in the present. As it stands, Father/Daughter Martini Time is a big hit.

Show the dads and father figures in your life what they mean to you with a thoughtful gift. Matching dad and daughter bathers, one of a kind jackets, and the coziest sweats EVER all made our list. Check it out HERE.