Information about Cool Dads Rock: www.cooldadsrock.com.
What makes a dad cool? That’s simple, La Verio Barnes says. Being there for your kid is what makes you a cool dad. “I heard someone say that kids spell love t-i-m-e,” says Barnes, an Atlanta deejay and musician. Barnes didn’t really know his father but is putting in plenty of t-i-m-e with his 8-year-old son, Anderson. In 2013, Barnes started a nonprofit, Cool Dads Rock, to help create opportunities for fathers to bond with their sons and daughters.
Q: What is Cool Dads Rock?
A: I always say Cool Dads Rock is where we make uncool dads cool and cool dads even cooler. Even more so, it is where we help build better relationships between fathers and their kids through different events and programs.
Q: What kind of events and programs?
A: We put on the Cool Dads Rock Soapbox Derby Festival in August. The derby is just the end result of sketching out the car, going to buy materials, building the car, painting it. What people are really building are these amazing memories. We also are planning to offer a father-to-father mentoring program, where younger and new fathers work with older fathers. We also want to offer a boot camp to help fathers in a number of areas.
Q: Where did you get the idea for Cool Dads Rock?
A: Since my son was in a carrier, I posted photos of him everywhere we went. People would send me emails and texts saying, "I just love your relationship with your son." In my mind, I am just having fun with my kid. I thought, "Let's do something so dads can be with their kids."
Q: Is Cool Dads Rock for single dads?
A: It is for single dads, married dads, dads across the board. For years, whenever you hear the word dad, normally it has "deadbeat" or "no good" attached to it. Our goal is to put a dent in that.
Q: Does your son live with you?
A: I pick him up from school and he spends half the week with me. Even though my ex-wife and I have had our differences, we decided our parenting is all about him, not us.
Q: Why is the relationship between dads and kids important?
A: I grew up without a father. My mom was the best mom she could be but she could not teach me how to be a man. As a kid, I saw father-son or father-daughter relationships and always wondered what that was like. I never wanted my son to wonder.
Q: Did you ever meet your dad?
A: When I was 14, we went out for an afternoon and played some video games. We didn't really talk much. I don't know if he knew what to say and I didn't know what to say. I saw him at my uncle's funeral after I graduated from college. I haven't heard from him since. My father missed out. He has this incredible grandson who is doing great things.
Q: Why are so many fathers absent today?
A: I can't say. Sometimes men are not ready to be fathers. That's not an excuse. Sometimes they just don't care, which is sad. Parenting is a job. You signed up for it. You can't just opt out.
Q: Have you learned anything from the other dads?
A: Absolutely. I've learned that there is no exact science to being a father. Every kid is different and what works for my kid may not work for yours. What I have learned is that kids don't care about money or things. They do care about spending time with you.
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