Dr. Steven Ray
by Savvy Kids June 13, 2012
From the Savvy Family section of the June, 2012 Savvy Kids.
Dad: Steven Ray, Dentist
Children: Parker, 13; and Cassie, 11
What’s your parenting style: Very active!! I have always participated in activities with the kids including swimming, playing basketball, football and baseball, jumping on the trampoline, playing board games, etc. I feel it’s very important to interact with my kids this way rather than just sitting back and watching. The downside (if you want to call it that) is you must stay in shape to do this or it will kill you!
Life lesson learned from parenthood: I can sum this up with one word: Patience. This is something I have struggled with from the beginning of my adult life. I’ve prayed for more patience since I can remember. Although I’ve become much better, it can still be a struggle. Without patience it would be next to impossible to raise a child and I’m finding more about that as my kids have nearly become teenagers.
As a busy dad, how do you keep everything organized: Since I have always been pretty self-sufficient it was tough but I have learned to rely on friends and family to help me on very busy weeks. I realized that it was absolutely impossible to be two places at once and I don’t want the kids to miss out on activities that will benefit their future.
Advice for “keeping it all together”: The best advice I can give is to communicate daily. When we don’t make time to talk about what the upcoming week activities are, things become very stressful. Projects become overdue, test grades are low, and after-school activities are missed. I try to stay very involved with every facet of their life.
Favorites:
Book: The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley
Music: Rock, Country, Hip-Hop (the kids love me keeping up-to-date)
Place to shop for you: Dillard’s
Place to shop for kids: Justice and Abercrombie & Fitch
Family Activity: Laking it!
Restaurant: I’m a Chili’s fanatic!
Guilty pleasure: Lindor Truffles
Place to go for date night: Mt. Fuji
Vacation destination: Destin, Florida, without a doubt!
Won’t leave home without: My cell phone—I always have to be available for the kids.
