Kyle Lowry shares his best parenting advice
(Photo: Instagram/kyle_lowry7)
While he’s probably best-known for being the All-Star point guard for the Toronto Raptors, Kyle Lowry is also a full-time husband and dad to two adorable kids.
We caught up with him to talk about the challenges of being a father on the road and also about the adorable relationship between his son Karter and DeMar DeRozan’s daughter, Diar.
You’ve said that your mom has been one of the biggest influences in your career. Whats one of the things you’ve learned from her that you want to pass on to Karter and Kameron?
The fact that she’s been there since day one. No matter if times were hard or things weren’t going the right way, she worked her butt off and made sure that I had everything that I needed to have. She’s supported everything I’ve ever done and I think that’s one thing that I will always pass onto my children - that I’ll support them no matter what. Tough times, easy times – at the end of the day, they’ll have my support and unwavering love.
What’s it like to be a dad that travels frequently?
It’s definitely tough not being with your children every single day, but with the technology that we have now….I keep my phone on at all times so [Karter] can always call me or FaceTime me. I make sure that he speaks to me before he goes to school and he’ll call me when he gets home from school. The important thing is to be available if he needs me or if he has a small question or even if he just wants to say “hi” and hang up.
(Photo: Instagram/kyle_lowry7)
You obviously have a close relationship with DeMar and his family, and Karter seems to be pretty good friends with his daughter, Diar. Do you have any funny stories about them?
Me and DeMar actually joke all the time - DeMar says, “Look, if he hurts her, I’ma hurt you.” It’s a little joke that we have going on, but at the end of the day, we really are great fathers and my kid and DeMar’s daughter, they are wonderful human beings and wonderful children. It’s kind of weird and it’s kind of crazy, but they really are best friends.
Becoming a father can be a scary thing. What’s one piece of advice you’d give for any fathers-to-be?
Don’t expect any sleep! I think the most important thing is willing to be patient and know that you have to sacrifice everything for them. You have to make sure that you’re prepared to have them follow you in every step that you do. So you have to be aware that you have someone watching your every move and taking that and learning and putting that into their brain.
What’s the best part about being a dad?
The best part is caring for my children. The strength that I’m able to show them, physically and internally – the strength of waking up every day at 6 o’clock in the morning and getting up with them no matter what. Every day, you wake up and you see those kids smiling at you and jumping on you and just wanting to be around you, that’s a joy in itself every day.
What’s something special that you and the kids like to do together?
The one thing that resonates with me with the Dove Men+Care’s line is that at the end of the day it’s about being a father, being with them everyday and looking forward to them jumping on me and us playing around and just being an every day dad. Thats why the relationship I’ve had with Dove Men’s Care has been great.
Part of the campaign is about seeing every day dads as heroes. What do you think is the most heroic thing a dad can do?
I think that me being a dad is making sure I teach them the right things and the right way to be when they grow up. Making sure they work hard, and they’re accountable and that they have respect. I think that’s one thing as a dad that you can teach your children: how to be a successful person.
What do you think makes a father a hero? Let us know by tweeting @YahooStyleCA.
