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Parent Profile
PARENT PROFILE Brandon Dukes
BRANDON AND HIS WIFE BRITTNEY HAVE MADE SOME HILARIOUS SOCIAL MEDIA VIDEOS DURING QUARANTINE — FROM THE KOALA CHALLENGE TO THE FLOOR IS LAVA CHALLENGE (WHERE HE WORE THIS OUTFIT), BRANDON AND HIS WIFE KNOW HOW TO MAKE PEOPLE SMILE DURING AN UNCERTAIN TIME!
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.
I am Brandon Dukes. I am a 36-year-old family man. I have been married almost 12 years to my wife Brittney and we have two kids — Bronson, 7, and Bristol, 6. I teach young minds at Owensboro Middle School. I am an Owensboro native. My family and I attend Owensboro Christian Church on a regular basis.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING A DAD?
It is so fascinating to watch our kids grow and learn. I love it! I love making them smile. I love providing them with opportunities that I didn’t have, which is kind of difficult being as blessed as I was growing up. I also feel blessed to help mold a new generation.
FROM YOUR QUARANTINE FACEBOOK VIDEOS, YOU SEEM LIKE A FUN, GOOFY DAD. IS THIS IMPORTANT IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR KIDS?
To be honest, the things I do on social media are irrelevant in relation to my kids. Typically, I don’t post things on social media. However, during the current quarantine situation, the wife and I thought this was just a great time to spread joy and happiness. If we could create one smile, then we were successful. I get to see what social media looks like at the middle school level and it scares me to some degree. I try not to intertwine social media in our kids’ lives. I want them to value face-toface relationships. I do value making my kids smile and laugh, in hopes to create lifelong memories.
FROM YOUR QUARANTINE FACEBOOK VIDEOS, YOU SEEM LIKE A FUN, GOOFY DAD. IS THIS IMPORTANT IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR KIDS?
Believe people when they say they are there for you. When someone offers help, take them up on their offer. When they say, “you are loved and supported,” they mean it! I have countless, loving relationships because of the support that
God has placed in my life through many amazing people.
WHAT IS THE BEST FATHER’S DAY GIFT YOU HAVE EVER RECEIVED?
Each year my wife blesses me with a collage of pictures of our kids holding letters that spell
“Daddy.” The kids are always making goofy faces. She has given me this gift for many years. It is neat to see how the kids have changed and their goofy reactions.
WHAT PARENTING ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER DADS? I am no expert at this parenting thing.
Therefore, I feel out of place to say anything. Parenting is something that requires lots of patience and I don’t have time for that. :-)
On a more serious note, my primary advice for parents would be to simply be present, grateful for each moment, good and bad, and have fun with your kids. I believe that life is too short to live your life being so serious all of the time.
FUNNIEST PARENTING MOMENT?
Is it chasing my daughter through
Walmart with her pants down? Is it getting splinters out of my son’s bottom?
Is it riding a twin mattress downstairs? Or, could it be my daughter asking Santa for a “Grandma Scooter” for Christmas. It is just too difficult to choose.
Keeping it Real
R E L ATA B L E S T O R I E S F R O M L O C A L PA R E N T S A N D GRANDPARENTS
