PEOPLE

For Fathers Day, the Southeast Missourian asked fathers to share some thoughts about being a dad.

Bob McMillian: "It's quite an accomplishment for me to see my son and daughter and also my four grandchildren grow up and become somebody who I am proud of. Becoming a father made me grow up and to realize I had a responsibility to set an example for them."

Dale Thompson: "I have a daughter and sometimes it's challenging when they are in their teenage years. I try to be right there in the things that she does. I am proud that we have a common interest in that we raise and show horses. It's a family project."

Tim Sievers: "I have always liked children and being with them and helping them. I guess my father did the same with me. I see some of the same qualities in my two boys that are in myself. Being a father, I am more efficient with my time because I have to be."

Brad Wendel: "Having a 10-month-old boy changes your life completely. Everything I do is geared toward what I can do for him. I'm a better person because I am now a lot less selfish. It's also easier now to appreciate what other parents go through with their children."

Mark Morrissey: "I have a boy and a girl, and the best part of being a dad is seeing the kids develop. Some things that are simple for an adult are often a tragedy for a child, so it's satisfying to be able to help them through it. It's fulfilling to receive the love they show."

Jerry Cady: "I have a son and a daughter. I see a lot of times that my own dad comes out in me. The older you get, the more that you realize that your parents knew more than you thought. It's rewarding when your children return the love to you, and when they excel in something."