Posted on May 31, 2019 in
FEATURES
By Emma Watson –
With Father’s Day around the corner, a focus on dads and the superheroes they are is important to show them how much we appreciate them. We talked to four Fort Bend dads about what it means to them to be a father, the times they’ve enjoyed with their kids and how they’ve come to raise wonderful families. Here’s what they had to share about their journey through fatherhood.
Matt Neely
Noah and Ginger Neely, Jenna Jefferson, Matt Neely, Jessica Jefferson and Grace Neely.
Matt Neely is the lead Pastor at Parkway United Methodist Church exhibiting his leadership and passion for others. A kind-hearted soul and a wise teacher, Neely has raised his four children and one grandson with love and balance alongside his wife, Ginger. Neely spends his time continuing to raise his own children and enjoying the benefits of being a grandfather.
Fort Bend Focus: What is your favorite thing to do with your children/grandchildren?
Matt Neely: My favorite thing to do with both my kids and my grandson is to make memories. Whether we’re going to Disney World or just going to dinner and talking across the table, I love being together.
FBF: What is your best memory of your children/grandchildren?
MN: My favorite experience with my grandson so far, with him being only two-years-old, was the first time we went to look at Christmas Lights at Santa’s Wonderland. It was just amazing to watch his little blue eyes light up as he saw the millions of Christmas lights out there.
FBF: If you could pick one moment, which would say was your proudest moment to be a dad/grandfather?
MN: My proudest moment as a father is probably every single time my kids achieve something they had to work really hard for. I enjoy my kids reaching for difficult things and accomplishing them with hard work. My proudest moment as a grandfather has been every time my grandson Weston comes over to our house and always comes looking for me first.
FBF: What do you believe is the key to raising and supporting happy, healthy and productive children?
MN: Being present. It’s hard to replace that. But also, exposing your kids to the most important things in life and then allowing them to make their own choices. They are their own people, and they have to make their own decisions. Our job was to expose them to that and many other things and then let them become their own people.
FBF: In your opinion, what is the greatest part about being a dad/grandfather?
MN: It teaches you how to love. Before my kids and grandkids, I think so much of my life revolved around me and what I wanted. But getting married, having kids and now grandkids completely reorients your world. It has literally taught me how to love deeply.
FBF: What is one piece of life advice you would give to your kids/grandkids?
MN: Live for something bigger than the stuff, the money or the next emotional high. For me that is God, and God has been the glue that helps me understand and prioritize everything else!
Ray Self
Keenum, Kathryn, Ray and Clif Self.
An Information Technology (IT) Manager and a System, Applications and Product (SAP) Architect, Ray Self has his hands full with two teenage boys. With one in high school and the other in middle school, Self and his wife, Kathryn, juggle all of the boys’ activities along with their own jobs and responsibilities. Self is an inspiring father who manages to support and love his family all while finding time to continue to work hard at what he loves.
Fort Bend Focus: What is your favorite thing to do with your children?
Ray Self: My favorite thing to do with my boys is to be outside with them, enjoying the great outdoors and engaging in sporting activities.
FBF: What is your best memory of your children?
RS: My best memory of my children is when we would go on family vacations to Destin, Florida. Getting to spend days with them on the beach is relaxing and rewarding.
FBF: If you could pick one moment, which would say was your proudest moment to be a dad?
RS: I am truly proud whenever my children go out with friends and their families, and I am told how polite and well-mannered they are.
FBF: What do you believe is the key to raising and supporting happy, healthy and productive children?
RS: Parents have to love each other and be happy in their marriage so that the kids feel supported, comfortable and happy.
FBF: In your opinion, what is the greatest part about being a dad?
RS: The greatest part about being a dad is enjoying the time with my children and being able to teach them life lessons that I had to learn on my own when I was their age.
FBF: What is one piece of life advice you would give to your kids?
RS: Enjoy your time to be a kid. Don’t rush into adulthood because it will be there when you graduate high school and college, and you will wish you could go back. Spend time with your family and friends, and don’t grow up too fast.
Taylor Landin
Katie, Walker, Beau, Taylor and Annie Landin.
Taylor Landin is a fun and loving father who prides himself on being a former Texas Longhorn and the father of three amazing children. He and his wife, Katie, have a spunky boy, Walker, and an adorable set of twins, Beau and Annie. Landin is a man of humor and a dad with an immense amount of love for his children, which he shows them in every way possible.
Fort Bend Focus: What is your favorite thing to do with your children?
Taylor Landin: We like to go to the “dinosaur museum” and the zoo. We also like to stay around the house and play in the yard, as well as take a quick walk to play at the local playground.
FBF: What is your best memory of your children?
TL: I have special memories with all three of our kids and picking one is impossible. The times when we all are playing games together as a family stick with me, along with the rare times that I get to be with them one on one.
FBF: What do you believe is the key to raising and supporting happy, healthy and productive children?
TL: I’m not sure anybody really knows what the key is to raising good kids. I try to be present when I have the opportunity to be with them. It’s also important to let them make mistakes and give them enough space to explore new things.
FBF: In your opinion, what is the greatest part about being a dad?
TL: Knowing that you have some part in shaping who your children will grow up to be is really fun. Hopefully we model important values that put them on the right path in life.
FBF: What is one piece of life advice you would give to your kids?
TL: Four simple words: don’t be a jerk.
James Patterson
Kelly, Ricky and Jamie Holdsworth, Mary Jo and James Patterson with Maritza, Jaxon, Justin, Terry, Holly, Melisa and Brandon Bell.
As former Fort Bend county commissioner and retired principal of Dulles and Elkins high schools, James Patterson is a man of abundant wisdom to share and lots of love to go around. Patterson has three lovely children, three grandchildren, one great grandson and another great grandchild on the way. Patterson now enjoys his time with his family and is an inspiring and uplifting individual to everyone he comes in contact with.
Fort Bend Focus: What is your favorite thing to do with your children/grandchildren/great grandchildren?
James Patterson: When my grandkids were younger, we would go to our farm and mess with the cows or ride bikes. With my great grandson, we like to take lawn mover and golf cart rides, and since he’s so young, he just sits and looks around, enjoying all that he can see.
FBF: What is your best memory of your great grandchild?
JP: The first time I heard him say “Grandpa” was one of the greatest moments I have witnessed, and I was so happy to hear him say my name.
FBF: If you could pick one moment, which would say was your proudest moment to be a great grandfather?
JP: It’s hard to pick just one, but recently, at Easter Sunday church service, my great grandson was very well-behaved, and it made me proud to see how attentive and obedient he was being, compared to other children his age who were rowdy and had to leave the service.
FBF: What do you believe is the key to raising and supporting happy, healthy and productive children?
JP: The key is to be consistent. Everyone needs a little consistency in life and being that source of dependency for your family is important so that they know what to expect and how they should move forward in life.
FBF: In your opinion, what is the greatest part about being a dad/grandfather?
JP: The admiration that you see from a child that you have had a part in raising is always rewarding. Seeing the pride that your kids, grandkids and great grandkids have for the adults in their life makes you feel loved and accomplished.
FBF: What is one piece of life advice you would give to your kids/grandkids?
JP: Be aware of the things you have. Having good health, a loving family and a great society is a blessing that should not be overlooked. Take a step back and ask yourself, “What’s great about my life?”
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