Dwyane Wade

Summertime is one of the best times to be in Miami. It’s the time to relax and enjoy the sand and beaches. As for me, the summer is the busiest time of the year. This is the time of the year when I travel to different parts of the country—whether it’s traveling overseas for appearances, doing interviews and photo shoots, hosting basketball camps in multiple cities, and  preparing for my annual Wade’s World Foundation events in Chicago. Basically, it’s in the summer that I have my work cut out for me. As a single parent, this is also the time of year where I find I have to do the most work in balancing out both my travels and spending time with my sons.  Luckily, I always find ways to include them in many of the things I do so that it’s not all work; we can have some playtime, too.

 

This summer, I will be traveling to London with the USA Basketball Team to compete for the gold medal. Although I’ll be overseas, my boys will be coming along for the ride. While there, I want to make sure they learn about the culture in London, get a chance to tour the city and watch their dad play on the USA Basketball Team in the Olympics. The experience of being in London with my sons may be new, but traveling with them and getting work done is not. I always look forward to incorporating my boys into my summer schedule. I find that it becomes the perfect opportunity to allow them into the total experience of what I do as a businessman and a professional basketball player. Whether it’s having them along on a set of a photo shoot or an interview, the summer allows me to give them the behind the scenes look into daddy’s career. But with them around, it’s not all work since they take me away to do things on their schedule, too. Last year, while we made a stop in New York for some media engagements, we made time for some play and fun in the city, going out for burgers and shakes and seeing Spiderman on Broadway. 

 

Other times, when the boys are unable to join me, we communicate via Skype. But no matter how busy I may get with the demands of my career, I must always make time for playing with my boys. I find that kids don’t necessarily understand “work.” What they see is daddy playing basketball, but there was a time when they didn’t get to see the other side and what came along with being a professional basketball player. 

 

So, as it’s time for all parents to start counting down to summer, what plans do you have for you and your children? Is there an activity you plan to incorporate that gives them a better understanding of what you do at work? As the kids are out of school, the summer may just be one of the best times to do this. Summertime is playtime.

 

Get the full story on this all-star father at www.dwyanewade.com.

 

Dwyane Wade