Dad is a “Limo Driver” For His Three Kids

Being in New York, it’s hard to not get caught up in the celebrity hoopla and sports star sightings.  I find it interesting when some of these people that we admire so much on-screen or on the field/ice, share some of their personal parenting stories on how they stay “tuned” into and involved in the lives of their children.  Recently, I came across an article featured in Long Island Parent: “for, by, and about LI Moms & Dads” that had a spotlight on hockey star, Doug Weight: A Father Figure On and Off the Ice.  As an aside, nice to see a parenting magazine spotlight a father on their cover during a month that is not June!

Doug Weight, captain of the New York Islanders, has three kids- Ryan, 11, Danny, 9, and Addison, 6, that keep him busy.  As a professional hockey player, Weight has summers off (similar to teachers) and chooses to spend significant time with his children when they are off as well.  Additionally, Weight appears to be a positive role model (aka father figure) to the younger players and rookies on the team.

“I’m the limo driver. It comes with the territory,” he said. “Now that they’re older, they’re involved in all these activities. Ryan is involved in basketball and soccer and school things, and my son loves hockey and lacrosse. So Allison (his wife) and I run around a lot. Usually I have breakfast with the kids and then drop them off at school, then go to practice.”  On practice days he picks the kids up from school and in the typical scheduling juggling act of many Long Island parents, he and Allison split who is shuttling whom where and at what time.

I know this is not the most groundbreaking material here, but certainly nice to hear how a professional hockey dad gets engaged in the lives of his children.