San Diego rad dads: Matt Hensley, Flogging Molly
Note: This is the final in a series of five “rad dad” stories that will run on DiscoverSD.com leading up to Father’s Day.
The Musician: Matt Hensley
Pro skateboarder, restaurateur and longtime musician for the band Flogging Molly.
Kid: Oliver, 17
For the majority of Matt Hensley’s life, he has traveled the world for his job (in fact, he was on tour in Detroit when we did this interview). During his late teens he was a professional skateboarder of the highest order and became a hero to the generations that followed. He changed his path in his 20s and eventually found himself playing music in an Irish punk band called Flogging Molly. For nearly 20 years, except for a short stint as a bar owner, Hensley has traveled around the world with the band and yet has always found a way to be a devoted husband and one of the coolest fathers you could ever meet. His son has followed in his skateboarding footsteps, and often goes out with his dad to skate a few spots in their hometown of Carlsbad. The two are peas in a pod.
Be in the moment
When I asked Hensley about balance, he said it could be a struggle at times. “The lesson that I learned is that it’s not about how much time you are home, it’s about when you are home, you have to be in the moment and cherish the time you spend with your family and show them how deeply they are loved and let them know that you are there for them,” Hensley says. Punk rock music and skateboarding are the cornerstones on which this family is built, and that suits Matt and his wife Desiree just fine.
Pro dad tip: “You have to try your best to make the time for your family. You have to live in the moment and appreciate the time you can get with them.”
Rad dads
Parenting is no easy feat. So this Father’s Day, give your dad a big hug and, if you’re new to the parenting game, take some notes from five of the coolest dads in San Diego.
Source: DiscoverSD