As we approach Father’s Day on the 19th, fashion and lifestyle blogger Ruthie Ridley lent us her husband Ben to share his thoughts on what it means to be a dad to their three beautiful children and give us some insight on his favorite footwear styles.
From a very young age I was always drawn to little kids and babies in particular. In our circle of friends I was known as the “baby whisperer”. So from a young age I could not wait to become a father myself. When people ask me what my dreams and goals are my answer usually begins with “I am living my dream right now”. Doing family well and creating a healthy environment for my kids to grow and thrive in is one of my greatest purposes in life.
I don’t think anyone could have properly prepared me for fatherhood. Looking back almost 7 years now, I think about how thankful I am that we were so young and naïve! Trust me; this is not always a bad thing. Our first born, Ava was a relatively easy baby and we bonded very quickly. Getting up and going to work each day was torture for me as I couldn’t wait to get home and snuggle with my baby and beautiful baby’s mama. This is still true to this day. I discovered uncharted depths of my heart and continue to be amazed to this day how much more my heart can expand with love for my little people. Another amazing thing about becoming a father is the perspective that it gives you. I have become that dad that could talk about nothing else other than their children. They have become our world.
From the beginning of our marriage, Ruthie and I have juggled a very rigorous schedule ranging from myself being in school full time, Ruthie working nights, coaching soccer and being very active in our church and community to name a few things. The art of tag-teaming and supporting one another has been a daily theme in our lives. When we are not working, we try to spend as much quality time together as we can outside of the house. The kids love to swim and we are fortunate enough to live close by to a California Family Fitness which we go to almost every day. The deal we make with the kids is, we work out for 1-2 hours and then we get to swim. The Burst sneakers have made an excellent addition to my gym apparel and I have been amazed at how supportive they are. After my work out I love being able to throw on my new Relaxed Fit sandals which not only look good but feel great as well. We love this summer routine and have found it to be a win for everyone!
When choosing shoes to wear I am always so happy when I find a pair that combines style with comfort. The Skechers Originals sneaker seen in these pictures provides just that. They have become my “go-to” shoes for our daily walks as a family with our new puppy but also for my every day casual look. One of the many ways that I can show love to my kids is the way that I love their mother. With that being said, Ruthie and I try to sneak out for date night as often as we can, whether it is $5 Tuesday at the local theater, or grabbing Sushi and a romantic walk around downtown Sacramento, especially around the Capital building. When it comes to casual, the Relaxed Fit shoes are such a great look. They have also helped me branch out from the one pair of black dress shoes that I wear to work every day. It’s so important for us to spend quality time together and hit the refresh button so that we are always at our best for our kids because that is exactly what they deserve.
Dad in Skechers Burst – Second Wind with kids in the Twinkle Toes Granola Hugger sandal, leather Relaxed Fit: Maddox high top and the Skechers Burst – Divergent high top.
In closing, if I could offer any piece of advice to a new father, or a soon to be father, I would say, don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Know that you are your kid’s hero, but you are also human. When it comes to love, lead by example and know that you can never say “I love you” enough. And lastly, even little kids love small talk. So start and end each day in conversation and create an environment in which they know all lines of communication are always open. Live each day like a gift, because that’s exactly what it is.
When not hanging out with Ruthie, Ava, Savannah, and Judah, Ben works in health care and practices real estate in Northern California where the family has lived for the past three years. He was born in the UK, grew up in Connecticut, and spends as much free time as possible playing golf and soccer. You’ll see Ben occasionally on Ruthie’s blog at Ruthieridleyblog.com. Follow @ruthieridley on Instagram and Facebook to see more images.
Filed under: Life & Style, Men Tagged: Blog Takeover, featured
