S
amandhiswifeRosiequit
Aucklandtwoyearsagoto
movetoMtMaunganui,where
Sam(35)is a TVNZreporter.They’re
proudparentsofdaughterViolet(2).
What’sthebestpieceofadvice
yourfathergaveyou?
Dad’sincrediblysmart,hard-working
andsupportive.It’snothisstyletooffer
advice.Instead,heencouragedusto
bethebestversionofourselves,and
respectedtheprocessofgettingthere.
I certainlymadethischallengingat
times,buthe’salwaysbeentherefor
ourfamily,andhecontinuestobea
sourceofinspiration.
What’syourfavouriteFather’s
Daymemory?
Dadwasalwaysupfirst.Mumwould
buythepresentsandmytwosisters
andyoungerbrotherandI wouldwrite
in thecards.He’dhavea cupofteaand
toast,andthenhe’dbeoff,muttering
somethinglike,“Thelawnswon’tmow
themselves”,or,“HaveI toldyouthe
storyabouttheLittleRedHen?”
HowdidyouspendFather’sDayas
a child?Whatdoyoudonow?
Dadisn’tonetoseekattentionorlie
aboutin thespoilsofcheapcards.It
wasspentlikeanyotherday.Nowadays,
it’sa persistentchildcallingforher
“porr-widge”assheopensthepresents,
andscribblesin thecheapcard.
What’ssurprisedyouthe most
about fatherhood?Despiteallthenappies,themarked
walls,depletedfundsanddemands,
whatsurprisedmemostwashow
muchyouloveyourchild.Watching
themgrow,developideasand
investigateis trulyspecial.
Whatdoyouwishsomeonehad
warnedyouaboutbecominga dad?
Violetarrivedsevenweeksearlyand
wespentsometimein thenewborn
intensivecareunit.Havinga preterm
babywasnotonourradar.Youneedto
berealisticthatbirthandthefirstfew
weeksthatfollowcanbetouchandgo.
Acceptalloffersofhelp,especiallymeal
rosters.Restandtakefiveminutesevery
daytositbackandobserveyourlittle
creation– becausetheyonlygetnoisier
andmorechallenging.
What’syourbestdadjoke?
I’veneverreallylikedtheideaofhaving
facialhairbutit’sreallygrowingonme.
[Insertdeflatedtrumpetsoundhere!]
Whatwouldyousayis thenumber
onemust-haveforKiwidads?
Patience.
WhatdoyoumostwantforFather’s
Daythisyear?
Thisis a loadedquestion.I shouldsay,
“I haveeverythingI need,”butsinceyou
asked,I wanta trailer-loadoffirewood.
Mostweekendsarespentchopping
uprecycledcrates.Thiswillprobably
formViolet’sfirstFather’sDaymemories,
asDadmutters,“HaveI toldyouthe
storyabouttheLittleRedHen?”New Zealand Woman’s Weekly 7
dads
of
a life time!
Thedepthoflove
Samfeelsforhis
adorablechubby-
cheekeddaughter
Violethastaken
himbysurprise.
Sam Kelway “It’s truly special.”