Meet Chris

In honor of Father’s Day, I wanted to highlight a Dad in our community who is nothing short of inspiring. It’s with great pleasure that I introduce to you our first ‘Meet a Dad,’ and my cousin, Chris Rohde. Take some time to read about this guy who’s one of the best in our community – caring, driven and quite hilarious! His desire to be the best Dad to his son Grady is something Moms and Dads alike can learn from.

What’s your favorite thing about Hyde Park?  
Hyde Park seems to have a little bit of everything – and all pretty much in walking distance. Over the years it’s been exciting to see how the community has developed. New restaurants, the seasonal events, the various shops – a lot of which are locally owned and operated. The people that live  in the community are always very welcoming. I’ve lived in Hyde Park for pretty much my entire life…I couldn’t see myself growing up and raising a family anywhere else!
Tell us about your Kid(s)!
I have a son, Grady, who will turn 5 in January. He’s awesome!
Favorite things to do with your kids around town?  
Anything outside. We love to go to the parks around town and hike and toss baseball or football. The Zoo is always a good go to. We also enjoy going to Washington and Smale Parks downtown. F.C. Cincy games have been a lot of fun.
Do you have a favorite local store, fitness class or restaurant you like to go to with Grady? What makes this local business so special?
Grady loves to read so we will walk up to the Blue Manatee and he gets to pick out a new book. We always seem to have to stop at Aglamesis on the way home – I think he’s figured something out there. I’ve taken him to Madtree a few times and he has enjoyed that with all of the other kids and dogs running around. And it turns out he’s quite the wingman.
Are you involved in a business venture, a local organization, a creative endeavor, or in the corporate world? Please share!
I’ve worked for Everything But The House (EBTH) for almost 3 years now and love it. Currently, I manage our Mail In Consignment program, which is a fairly new program where we provide shipping labels (which we pay for) to individuals or businesses wanting to sell their items on our awesome site. All they have to do is pack up their items and take them to any local UPS store. Very convenient.
How has this community been instrumental in getting you to where you are now?
The family and friends I have in the community have always been very supportive. I am fortunate to have come from a large family that has lived, and still live, in the area for most of their lives. This has allowed me to develop a great network of people that I know are always willing to help and support me.  
As a busy Dad who works full time, how do you make the most of your time with your kids?
I always try to make the most of every minute I spend with Grady. Being a single dad, I’ve made it a priority to make sure I turn off my “work brain” and give all my focus and energy to the time I am spending with my son. I use to be a chef and worked all of the time, but I made the decision to make a career change. To me, no job is worth having to sacrifice the time and memories you make with your kids. You don’t get those memories back.
What is the best advice you have received as a Dad?
That’s a tough one. I would probably say it’s to be a good role model for your child. They look up to you and are always watching you, so you want to make sure you are aware of that by setting a good example for them. Either that or I’ve been told “it gets easier” quite a few times.
What is the best advice you would like to give to a new Dad?
Simply, just cherish the times you have with your kids. The time you have with them is precious. Those first few years seem to go by so quick. For me, I felt like one minute I was holding Grady with one arm rocking him to sleep and then next he’s jumping, running, climbing all over the house. He still let’s me pick him up sometimes though.
Also, have patience. This is a learning experience for you as well, so just remember to take a deep breath. And never be afraid to ask for help.
Lastly, make sure to share the responsibilities with your spouse. I’ve learned that there is no such thing as “mom duties.” You can thank me later.