Jae Taylor is a children’s book author and also works with his wife at her tax business. He lives in Los Angeles, CA and has a wonderful daughter! Every Dad of the Week answers the following questions, read on to learn more about Jae and his family!
- What was your first reaction when you found out that you were going to be a father?
- Surprised and scared but excited that I was going to have a new best friend. I couldn’t wait for her to be born.
- When you knew you were going to be a father of a daughter, who or where did you turn to for advice?
- I didn’t know it was going to be a girl until she was born. The doctor had thought she was going to be a boy until she came out.
- How would your kids describe you as a dad?
- Fun and cool but absent because I went to prison when she was 11 until 23.
- What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
- Not being able to be there for her like I should have been. While I was home I never missed anything, not even a doctor appointment before she was born, I won the swaddling content in the parenting class, when she was little I was always super involved although her mother and I eventually weren’t together. So my biggest challenge was trying to stay involved as a parent in prison without being able to see her or have much communication.
- Looking back on your life as a father, what would you change if you could?
- I would have not put myself in any situation that could have ended up with me being pulled away from her.
- What do you do for fun with your child?
- Now we go to the beach, mall, talk forever on FaceTime. Things are just now opening up so we will be able to do much more things together.
- What advice would you give to other dads?
- You have the opportunity for them to see you as their hero, don’t blow it
- How have you come to balance fatherhood and outside life?
- I’m a father first, now that I got a second chance, that’s the most important thing.
- What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a father?
- When she was born, us playing and going to amusement parks, going to her schools to play with her and her friends. But unfortunately I have the memories also of the things I missed. I remember all the times I felt bad because I was in jail missing my baby growing up, going to prom, her graduations, her first date, her sorority events and college graduation. So unfortunately the sadness I experienced is also unforgettable.
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