Our 100th Dads in the Limelight are Wayne & Jonny Lifshitz of The Piggyback Rider. I want to thank Wayne and Jonny for being a part of this series. I first met them thanks to my review of the Piggyback Rider Product. It has been great connected with him and now sharing him with all of you!
1) Tell me about yourself, (as well as how you are in the limelight for my readers knowledge)
We are the brothers, fathers, inventors that designed and currently market the Piggyback Rider™.
2
) Tell me about your family
Our family moved through Europe during WWII from Poland and Germany, to the UK and eventually South Africa. We (and our younger brother Bryan) were born and raised in South Africa into a large extended family, that was well integrated into the local community. Every weekday and weekend, we were surrounded by relatives of one sort or another. Even friends were thought of as family. In 1980, we immigrated to the United States with our parents. No longer surrounded by an extended family, Southern California became our new home. Each of us headed off to a different PAC-10 university, pursuing our individual strengths: business, science and international relations (Wayne); and science, engineering, computer science (Jonny). Before long, we were living in different countries, time zones, or states from one another – each far-flung from our first U.S home in Irvine, CA. Next, we became husbands and independent professionals, and soon after, fathers. Between 2003 and 2010, we had six children (5 boys; 1 girl). Our kids became the impetus for the genesis of the Piggyback Rider™. Currently, we still live three states apart, within the same time zone, but the internet keeps us close.
3) What has been the largest challenge you have had in being a father?
Time. Finding time to (1) relax, (2) spend time with our wives and (3) engage in quality time with the kids and teach them everything they need to know. Daily duties of homework, washing, eating and cleaning often get in the way of all three. Thus, we designed a product to increase the quality of our times together. Over the past two years, manufacturing and marketing the Piggyback Rider has reshuffled some of that quality time. Thankfully, it is a family business and everyone plays an important role.
4) What advice would you give to other fathers?
Play with your kids. Listen to the way they interpret the game rules. Let them use their imagination to expand the boundaries of play. We have found that this increases the quality of the time you spend together. Our advice is to apply this simple play and listen rule applied to building lego, crashing cars, dressing up, making crafts, using technology and of course every sport available.
5) Seeing that you (or your position) are in the limelight, how have you come to balance parenthood and outside life? If you are currently not in the limelight per se, please still answer this in regards to how you balance parenthood and outside life.
Sleep less. There is no compromising quality, whether that quality is in the workplace or time spent with family. By sharing the responsibility with your business partner (brother) or your spouse, it is possible to maintain quality control, without compromise. However, sleeping less is always an option and a necessity at times.
6) What have you learned from the fathers that you have interacted with?
No one is above human nature. Everyone goes through the same difficulties and periods of doubt. Regardless of YOUR particular ‘issue of the moment’, someone has been there, someone will be going through it and the remainder have yet to go there. From that perspective, the online community is invaluable to discuss possible options for any given situation – home, work or recreation.
7) What else would you share regarding your experiences as a father thus far?
Fatherhood is a remarkable ‘look in the mirror.’ Children look up to and emulate their parents, copying every nuance and gesture. Be the person you want your child to be!
What have been the most memorable experiences that you have had thus far as a parent?
Laughing like a two year-old, with my two-year old! Sharing a conversation. Watching my oldest son transition (out of diapers) and into a toddler; his nightly bathroom visits cemented the fact that we now have a roommate.
If you have any questions for Wayne or Jonny, please leave a comment here and I will make sure that they get them so that they may be able to respond!
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