Get to Know the Fathers of Fawn Design

We talk a lot about moms and motherhood around here, but we have just as much love for the amazing fathers in our lives. In celebration of Father's Day, we're shining a light on the fathers of Fawn Design: Meet Jeff, Trevor, and Mark. We sat down with these cool dads and asked them all about fatherhood, from what's surprised them most about becoming a parent to their best dad jokes and diaper change stories. Read our heartfelt and funny Q&A below, and get to know the guys behind Fawn Design! 

Jeff Buckwalter, Fawn Design CFO 

What has been the biggest surprise, joy, and challenge about fatherhood? 

I could have never imagined how much I love my kids. They are my hobbies, my thoughts. my passion, my life. We love youth sports at our house. It feels like we have something every night. In a competitive world, it can be challenging not to push your kids too hard or over coach. I try to tell my kids before every game how much I enjoy watching them play and remind them only to play hard and have fun. Sports have been an incredible avenue for us to spend great times together, make new friends, and build confidence.  

What do you wish someone had told you when you first left the hospital with your baby?

Make sure you express and show gratitude frequently to your spouse for everything they do. Kids are a 24-7 deal. I still don't tell my wife enough how much I love her and thank her for being an amazing mom. 

What's one of your favorite activities or traditions you look forward to with your children?

I love the moments when we are all together and we don't feel rushed. Usually a Sunday morning all in the same bed or watching a movie together on the weekend. 

What's your best dad joke?

What did the buffalo say to his son as he was leaving for school? Bi-son...

Do you have a noteworthy diaper change story? 

I always tell my oldest son, Sam, about the first time I changed his diaper in the hospital. I was trying so hard not to screw anything up, but as soon as I removed his diaper he peed all over the both of us. I was kind of freaking out and he was smiling the whole time. 

If you had to sum up fatherhood in one word it would be:

Golden

If there's one lesson you hope your children will learn from you, or one quality you hope to instill in them, what would it be? 

I hope they will learn from me that there isn't anything I wouldn't do for them, and that they are and always will be the most important thing in my life. 

Is there anything you swore you'd never say or do as a father but find yourself doing all the time? 

For a long time I would say how happy I was just having two boys. I was so wrong. Little girls are the best, no question!

Trevor Crump, Fawn Design CMO 

What has been the biggest surprise, joy, and challenge about fatherhood? 

The biggest surprise is that you keep getting surprised. Once you have one child you think you’ve got it dialed, but you don’t. The biggest joy is when you see your kids overcome something they'd normally ask you to do for them. The biggest challenge is trying to be cooler and more fun than mom—I am currently not even close.

What do you wish someone had told you when you first left the hospital with your baby?

To spend more time on that moment rather than trying to get through some of the tough days.

What's one of your favorite activities or traditions you look forward to with your children?

I take my 4-year-old and 6-year-old to the golf course a couple times a month. They watch me play, sometimes clap when I do good, laugh when I get mad, and eat all the snacks by the second hole.

What's your best dad joke?

What’s brown and sticky? A stick.

Do you have a noteworthy diaper change story? 

This isn’t a diaper but a bed-wetting story. We were teaching my son to go to the bathroom at night rather than wet the bed. I went in to wake him up to go pee, and as I went in there he had peed over every square inch of his bed. I’m talking everywhere. I took him out of bed and went to help him take his pants off, and as I did that I realized every single inch of his pants were soaked in pee. I stopped out of frustration trying to think what I should clean up first. All of the sudden I started to feel warmth all over my feet. I looked down and my son was peeing all over my feet while he was still asleep. I ended up cleaning sheets, pillows, a mattress, my carpet, pajamas, and taking a shower to wash my feet off all that night.

If you had to sum up fatherhood in one word it would be:

Playing

If there's one lesson you hope your children will learn from you, or one quality you hope to instill in them, what would it be? 

Be and do what you want, not what others want you to do and be.

Mark Goldhardt, Fawn Design Senior Digital Marketing Manager  

What has been the biggest surprise, joy, and challenge about fatherhood? 

The biggest joy is being able to see the world as a child again. The biggest challenge is time and sleep management. The biggest surprise has been how much work it really is!

What do you wish someone had told you when you first left the hospital with your baby?

Enjoy and cherish the time your baby will sleep in your arms because it slips away before you know it.

What's one of your favorite activities or traditions you look forward to with your children?

Camping, fishing, sports, and Christmas! 

What's your best dad joke?

Man.... I don't think I'm deep enough in the dad game to have a good one.

Do you have a noteworthy diaper change story? 

When my boy was maybe 1-month old I was changing his diaper and was feeling pretty good about how quickly it was going and then as I wiped the last bit of kaka off, my entire hand was filled with a fresh batch of it.

If you had to sum up fatherhood in one word it would be:

Worthwhile

If there's one lesson you hope your children will learn from you, or one quality you hope to instill in them, what would it be? 

It would be the values my dad tried to instill in me: Learn to work hard and appreciate the people around you. 

Is there anything you swore you'd never say or do as a father but find yourself doing all the time? 

YES, I swore I wouldn't post so many pictures of my kid on Instagram and he basically is all I post about now.

Photos: Lizzyography