Our 422nd Dad in the Limelight is John Wood. I want to thank John for being a part of this series. It has been great getting connected with him and now sharing him with all of you.

1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)

Here’s the formal rundown: John Thomas Wood, PhD, is an author, veteran psychotherapist, consultant and workshop leader. He has written six non-fiction books and one novel. In his writing and work with people and organizations Dr. Wood has consciously explored the core issues each one of us faces in a lifetime, saying to the reader: here is what I have learned about the most important things in life. A long time member of Center for Studies of the Person in La Jolla, California, he now lives in the Northwest and devotes his time to writing, gardening and the visual arts.

2) Tell me about your family

My kids are out of the home. I have two sons, a daughter and three grandchildren. They are spread all over the country but we keep in good contact by phone, visits and e mail.

3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?

I think my biggest challenge in fathering was finding the balance between control and permission; wanting to allow my children to experience life as their own person and trying to hold them back from the things I thought would hurt them.

4) What advice would you give to other fathers?

I’m not much of an advice giver, but I guess I would urge fathers to be themselves as a person…be authentic, share the things you don’t know, admit that you’re human and don’t get wrapped up in the role of super-dad. I think kids, as everyone else, are drawn to men and women who are real.

5) How have you come to balance parenthood and outside life?

Since I’m an older guy and my kids are on their own, I haven’t faced this problem lately. When I was younger and an active dad, that balance was not too difficult, mainly because I had a lot more energy. It also helped that I encourage my kids to be good at selfesponsibility.

6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?

I learned the most from my own dad. He was very accepting, not easily rattled and a constant steadying presence. Unconsciously at first and then consciously, I have emulated that.

7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?

One of the messages in the book is: “Please have this kind of conversation and don’t find excuses not to, like I did.” As you’ll see, the book is written as a message I wish I’d delivered. I hope it gets passed on to my grandchildren and to other families and it helps moms, dads and their children to have an important series of talks about sex. Most of the people I’ve asked had no conversation at all.

8) What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?

I’ve had lots of good memories. One that sticks in my mind was being with my daughter when she delivered her child and my first grandchild.

I think for most parents having children is a bittersweet experience. It’s not all sunshine and roses and it’s not all doom and gloom. I find the love we have growing as we all get older and start to get our arms around life.

Read more about John here:

If you have any questions for John, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that he gets them so that he may be able to respond!

Also, do you know a Dad in the Limelight? If so, please email me their contact information so that they too can be a part of this series!

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