Paul Flynn: ‘There’s no fighting allowed’
Father’s Day celebrations for Paul “Flynny” Flynn’s family have always been about the special personal touches, and now he has his own children, he has made sure that tradition has continued.
“My sisters and I would make my dad bacon and eggs for breakfast in bed. I don’t think it was very nice because we were kids, but he loved it,” tells Flynny, 42, with a smile. “Now, my favourite thing is getting homemade art and cards from my kids.
That feels really special.”
There’s only one thing he would add to make it the perfect day – “There’s no fighting allowed on Father’s Day.”
Becoming a dad to Jack, 16, Leo, 14, Mickey, 11, and Alex, seven, showed Flynny a love he never knew was possible. He admits even though he enjoys working alongside his best friend Jay-Jay Feeney on More FM, being a dad is his favourite
job in the world.
Flynny’s fab four (from left) Leo, Mickey, Jack and daughter Alex.
“It’s nice to be loved so much by someone,” he enthuses. “My youngest Alex always wants to be by my side at the moment. It’s really special spending time with them and laughing together.”
Though he has always been very close with his dad Rick, 63, he admits experiencing that unconditional love for his own kids
made his bond with his dad even deeper.
The radio star tips his hat off to dad Rick, who was the best role model.
“I don’t think you quite understand when you’re growing up, but once you’ve got your own kids, you realise it’s the most unbreakable love in the world. Then you realise that your dad loves you like that and that’s pretty cool.”
Colin Hogg: ‘It pancakes for the entire gang’
With five kids spanning from the age of 44 to 23, Colin Hogg has spent most of his life parenting. Now that his brood is all grown up, the 71-year-old says he’s enjoying being able to sit back and watch as his children experience the magic and mayhem of raising their own families.
“I love watching the whānau expand,” he shares. “I’m so pleased to be a parent and grandparent that every day feels like Father’s Day.”
As he looks back at his biggest parenting lessons, many of which he has shared in the Weekly pages as one of our beloved columnists, he says the most challenging thing is accepting that your time is no longer your own.
“The hardest part of being a parent is coming to terms with the fact that it never ends, though that’s not a complaint.”
Though his own dad has passed away, Colin says the special memories that have stayed with him are from adulthood when his dad would help him build or repair things for his children.
“My favourite memories are from when I was grown up and had my own house, doing practical things with him around the place. It bonded us, though he was a bit bossy.”
Colin’s dream Father’s Day would involve him being surrounded by all his kids – Summer, 44, Gemma, 39, Rima, 37, Jamie, 36, Uma, 35, and Maddy, 23 – and 13 grandchildren as he prepares a feast.
Back row (from left): Jamie, his wife Nadine, Maddy, PJ (Summer’s partner), Tiaho (their youngest) and Summer. Seated (from left): Kura (Summer’s daughter), Colin with Olive (Jamie and Nadine’s daughter), wife Philippa and Miharo (Summer’s eldest).
“I would make pancakes for the entire gang. The one thing I hope they remember about me is my pancakes,” he tells with a laugh.
Jason Tikao: ‘I’ll do anything to make her laugh’
Jason with the apple of his eye, daughter Emiliana.
For Coast night-show host Jason Tikao, there are only three things he needs to have the perfect Father’s Day celebration.
“Spending time with family, a nice big feed and lots of scorched almonds,” the 45-year-old says. “With everything that has been going on these past couple of years, it feels nice to put on the brakes and have a day where it’s just family.”
After struggling for years to conceive, Jason and his wife Amy, 33, were overjoyed to welcome daughter Emiliana two years ago. Jason shares that the best part of being a dad is whenever he can make her smile.
“She loves to sing and dance, and I’m not a dancer, but I will get up and do it just to see the joy on her face,” he enthuses. “I’ll do anything to make her laugh.
“My favourite part of the day is picking her up from day care. When she spots me, she starts jumping up and down, yelling, ‘Daddy’. It gets me every time.”
Jason says he learned everything he knows about being a parent from his own amazing dad Bob. Though the 83-year-old suffers from dementia now, he still holds onto the special memories of their time together.
Jason with “incredible” dad Bob.
“It hasn’t robbed him of his love,” he says. “He tells us how proud he is and how much he loves us. It’s just incredible. As much as dementia takes away, it hasn’t taken that from us.”
Michael Van de Elzen: ‘You can demand anything!’
Raising two young girls can be tiring work, but chef Michael Van de Elzen says the most important lesson he has learned as a parent to daughters Hazel and Ivy is making the most of every moment, no matter how long the days may seem.
“Sometimes when you’ve spent the whole day with them, you think, ‘Is it bedtime yet?!’ But then you look back and you realise that time has flown by. Hazel is 11 now and Ivy is nine, and I don’t know where the time has gone.”
Bonding over bike rides with Hazel (left) and Ivy.
Michael’s girls are already following in their dad’s foodie footsteps. And every Father’s Day they put their kitchen skills to good use to varying results. “The kids always like to try and make something,” he says. “Some of the time it’s successful, quite often it’s not, and they tend to leave an enormous mess. But it’s the thought that counts.”
Michael’s favourite part of the day is having the power to get his children to finish their chores without complaining.
“It’s a day you can demand anything from the kids and they can’t say no!” he tells with a laugh. “Why can’t every day be Father’s Day?”
When the Eat Well for Less TV host imagines his perfect day, he says all he wants is a sunny day, riding his bike around Muriwai with his daughters and wife Bee, 48.
“Lockdown was amazing for us because we have a bike park near our home and we could ride along the road without the worry of a car,” he says.
“But we’ve hardly been out on our bikes as a family since. But it’s my favourite thing to do with them.”
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
