Win your man a Summer Kickoff Package to share with his family! Scroll down to read all about the amazing nominees. You can vote every day until Sunday, June 18th at 11:30pm.
Powered by Poll MakerOur SUPER*DAD* Nominees for 2023:
Tyler Yocca
By: Abigail Yocca
Tyler is a passionate, loving, and present father. He is not just a warm body with a title, but an involved relationship our children get to experience every day. He gives corrections with patience and gentleness and he practices what he preaches. He also gives time to me, his wife, and puts our relationship 2nd only to God. He is a listening ear for the children and I and he is a leader. Tyler loves to have fun and play as well as being serious about teaching our children about what is important in life. He is relentless in his love and pursuit of God, his family, and his passions. His best qualities are: Patience, Gentleness, Passionate, Loving, Strong, Fun
Tyler is a rock during birth. He is always there to offer the spiritual, emotional, and physical help that I need and want during that time. He was also so giving during postpartum and takes care of me and the kids afterward.
Jacob Schurer
By: Erica Schurer
Superdad Jake goes above & beyond for his fam. He leads us spiritually, emotionally & physically! Jake works so hard day in and day out, with no complaints. He constantly lays down his own life to make sure his girls are taken care of. I can honestly say there is nothing he wouldn’t do for us. He supports me in my role as a mama and encourages me in any way he can.
Jake values family and time together. He always prioritizes us first, after the Lord. Jake is an encourager. He is goofy and joyful! You can’t help but laugh and smile around him. He loves deeply and protects fiercely. He loves people and to talk/learn about the world around him. He would have a hundred different hobbies if he could manage it, lol! These are all things that I would love my kids to have instilled in them and I don’t doubt for a second that they will know his deep love for them.
Chris Arensberg
By: Jessica Furness
Chris is the definition of a SUPERDAD! Everything he does, he has his children’s best interest in his heart. He gets up at 6 am with our daughter (18 months) and they read books and play and let myself and our 3 year old get a little extra sleep while he prepares breakfast and coffee (for me)! He is out the door at 7 am and works long days for his own landscaping business, sometimes into the night before returning home, changing into clean clothes and he’s on the floor running around with the kids until it’s bed time- which he takes responsibility for! Even when he’s exhausted he keeps his energy for each of us, and he continues to show up..for the big things..for the tiniest moments and everything in between.
Chris and I met at 18 and 20 years old. On our very first date, we spent the majority talking about one day having kids, while we were only kids ourselves. He was passionate then, and now about breaking generational cycles and parenting in ways that both him nor I were parented, in an effort to raise children that did not have the same hardships we endured. I knew he was as serious as I was, although this journey would not begin for many years into our future. We continued our relationship and I saw him grow. He was always motivated physically for work and play. Chris was and still very much is the guy at the party with a flock of kids around him, and he’s playing just like he is one of them. I also saw his curiosity bloom. Chris loves to learn, really about anything. I worked as a professional nanny, and I would come home and tell Chris about experiences, ways other homes operated, what their values were etc..Chris was always genuinely interested in learning different ideas surrounding parenting and we quickly saw our lifestyle sort of shift towards more natural and unconventional styles of family. To this day, we are still very much learning about ourselves as individuals and as a parental unit..however Chris maintains his open mind, and curiosity and those qualities are accompanied by his patience and his faith. He is always positive and always smiling and he’ll do whatever it takes to spread that smile to everyone, especially to his children. We have a few weekend trips planned together, but during the busy landscaping season..any day with dad is the best day ever! He also just built a sand box for the kids and every morning after breakfast we head straight to the “sand castle”!
We are blessed to say we have birthed with The Pittsburgh Midwife! Chris really was my rock through that experience. He was my positivity when I had doubts, my strength when I felt I couldn’t muster any more, and my comedic relief too. The man that thought the birth pool might be “a little gross” was in there in his banana swim trunks, arms wrapped around me, speaking encouragement into my mind and heart to bring our baby earth side. He maintained all of his best qualities I mentioned prior, when I was most vulnerable. He met me with positivity, patience for the process and for my body, and most importantly his undying faith, that we were safe and loved and so was our long awaited baby. And when our daughter was born, he cried harder than I did 🙂
Joshua Strnisa
By: Ashley Strnisa
He strives to be there for his kids physically and emotionally. He is a superdad because last summer our son was attacked by a dog and he saved his life. He put pressure on my son’s wounds and drove us to the place my son was life-flighted.
I loved and still love that he tries to always be better and do better. I wanted to raise children with him because I knew that those children wouldn’t just have his eyes but his strength to be better and do better and move forward in their lives toward their own race in life. We are looking forward to pool parties, VBS, vacations, hiking, and going to camp.
Dad helped make the births great because he, like I mentioned above, learned from experience and kept learning on what to do and always worked on himself to be there in the way I needed him to. He supported my decisions and I enjoyed his conversations with the midwives that distracted me.
James Kerr
By: Kayla Kerr
James is an amazing, devoted father to 3 little girls. He plays Barbies and babies without hesitation. He does their hair and takes them on dates. He gives up a decent bedtime to cuddle with each of them every night. He encourages them to do new things and sets no boundaries on what they can achieve if they work hard to do so. He works hard around the house to provide for them. He doesn’t hesitate to help with dinner, housework, and laundry. He is an amazing father and husband.
James is hard-working, honest, and supportive. We’ve been together since we were teenage years. He has always supported and encouraged me. He has always worked hard to make our dream come true. I knew with these qualities he would be an amazing father.
We love to go camping and make memories in nature. We plan to spend as many weekends as we can with the girls outdoors.
We did have our first home birth last September but not with the Pittsburgh midwife she was planning on being on vacation. During the birth, He never left my side. He talked with me and held me up when I was tired. He did an amazing job with the baby. Our first week with the baby he waited on us hand and foot.
Dustin Drew
By: Sarah Drew
We have 6 kiddos ages 7-17. He works hard every day so I’m able to stay home with our kids. He’s the dad that gets down on the floor and plays with dolls or cars, plays catch outside, swims and goes on hike, gives baths then vacuums and changes sheets on the beds. He encourages me to take time for myself, whenever I need it. He is patient, kind, strong, silly and loves his family so much! I could not ask for a better father or partner!
He is so patient, smart, kind, funny, strong, and fair!
Dillon Light
By: Lauren Light
Dillon is the ultimate hands-on SuperDad. He is always available to do whatever he needs to help us as a family. We have a 2.5 year old and 2 month old – both boys. Dillon’s energy and patience seems like it is unending.
We all have our limits, and even when Dillon is overwhelmed he is caring and communicates with compassion.
I’m nominating him because our family has hit the jackpot when it comes to Dads. He changes midnight diapers, cooks breakfast and dinner when I’m too tired, will never say “no” to play time with our toddler, and is always asking what he can do to help.
He knows how taxing a newborn is on mom because he’s done his research. He’s willing to do whatever it takes to care for our family and provide a thriving environment.
He recently quit his job and took a huge step of faith by helping me build my business. He’s so dedicated to the dream of raising our family together.
Dillons best qualities:
– He works great under pressure
– Has a huge tank of love and patience
– Values family time over anything else
– He’s self-reflective and keeps improving even when I don’t think he could possibly be any better
He’s also great at:
– Communication
– Following through with daunting tasks
– Compassion
– Intelligence (has an amazing brain that he loves to share with me and our toddler)
We have been together for 11 years total and met when I was 18, he was 20. Some relationships fall apart after the transition from teen/early twenties year, but we’ve been able to continuously grow together while also growing as individual people.
The thing that made me decide to have kids with him is seeing how he can take criticism without pride. He’s resourceful with finding the tools he needs to grow and solve problems – whether it’s reading books or taking advice from the best father & husband figures he knows. His ego never gets in the way and that’s what I love most about him.
Dillon was the best birth partner with both of our boys.
For the first one, he was my biggest advocate. We were in a hospital during covid. He took on the role of a protector and spoke up in all the right moments, and was there for me physically, mentally and emotionally. During this first labor I remember thinking, he’s probably as exhausted as I am. Yet he continued to support me from the hypno-birthing classes we took together and we were able to have a natural birth in the hospital.
For our second labor, we were confident enough to do it at home with Jennifer. This labor was much faster (3 hours total) and he was fully prepared to deliver the baby. Thankfully he didn’t have to, as Jennifer arrived 15 minutes before our second was born. Jennifer mentioned that dads are usually a little more panicked than he was on the phone. He remained calm the entire time and started on laundry with the baby in his arms right after he was born so I could rest.
Dylan Corwin
By: Nicole Corwin
Dylan works hard at work but even harder at home! I know it’s not easy to balance the demands of a full time job that pays our bills and the demands of raising two small children, but he makes it look easy peasy! Our son loves playing with his daddy and our daughter’s face lights up every time daddy comes into the room. He has stepped up into the role of dad with so much ease & grace and it’s an honor to watch him delight in our children.
He is kind and gentle, easy to be around. He loves well and is easy to love in return. He is consistent and steady. Always dependable and willing to do anything for his family.
Our family is looking forward to local travels this summer – Erie, Idlewild, trips to the zoo, hanging at nearby parks, and collecting hours outside.
Birthing babies with Dylan at my side has been so special and powerful. He held my hand and rubbed my back when I wanted to, but also backed off and let me do my own thing when he knew I’d like some space. I loved his tears at the birth of both my babies- such a special memory of a man becoming a father to a son and then a daughter.
Tristan Sepp
By: Aleena Sepp
He puts his whole heart into his time with the kids even though he works so hard and has very limited time with them he always makes sure when he’s home from work he spends time making them feel special.
He’s such a selfless caring person who puts others before himself Enjoying the warm weather outdoors
During birth, he was such a huge support – always calm and reassuring me any time I started to lose my focus.
Andrew Haddad
By: Ashley Haddad
My husband is the most selfless, incredible husband and father I have ever known. Not only does he work a full time job that sometimes requires overnight shifts, but he also cooks, cleans, does laundry, and still manages time to be an amazing father to our three kids. There is nothing he can’t do!
We came into our marriage with children from previous relationships, and my daughter does not know her biological “donor” (as I call him). I know it can be difficult to step into the role of not just a step parent, but also the only father figure my daughter has ever known—but he is INCREDIBLE! He has shown my daughter what a father’s love is and she adores him. He balances the attention between all of our kids with ease, and they all feel loved equally by him.
When I was pregnant with our son last year and hospitalized for a week with preeclampsia, he took over and handled EVERYTHING—the kids, the house, and continued working—with ease and without a single complaint. During my second hospitalization he stayed with me during my C-section, and slept on a crappy pull out couch next to my bed for an entire week after my son was born. After my c-section, he spent 3 more weeks at home bringing me breakfast in bed while I was nursing, washing my pump parts, catering to my every need and making sure I didn’t get up and walk too much so I could heal. He took such great care of me and never once complained.
He is the most hands-on dad you’ll ever meet! He is the first to jump up and change a dirty diaper. He never complained when our son was waking up in the night—despite the fact he had to wake up early for work the next morning, he would still jump up and ask me if I needed anything. He ALWAYS puts me first.
He is truly our rock and our everything!! He works tirelessly around the clock to make sure all of us are taken care of, and I would just love to be able to give him this gift to show how much we love and appreciate everything he does for us.
He is SO patient, calm, and level-headed! He really holds me down when life gets chaotic. He is also the FUNNIEST guy I know—not a moment goes by when we aren’t laughing together!! I love the way he loves me, and how comfortable he is showing affection to me in front of our kids. It’s important to me that they get to see a healthy marriage modeled for them every day.
He is also an EXCELLENT communicator! We have the same love languages so it’s easy, but even when it isn’t we sit down and talk things out without issues. We have been best friends since we were in college, so I can honestly say he is my best friend and partner in everything we do.
His daughter is 11, and I saw how involved he is with her and how great their relationship is. Watching him be such an amazing dad (and at the time he was a single dad) was all I needed to see to know I wanted to have kids with him. He coaches her softball teams, and spends time with her every day. He is always present and I knew that was the kind of man I wanted to have babies with!” Watching our son grow and experience his first summer—at the pool, going on trips together, working outside in the garden, and going to our daughter’s softball games! I was SUPPOSED to have a home birth with you at first and let me tell you—he would have been INCREDIBLE. He was so prepared—he went to all of the doula classes with me, he came to every single appointment, he never wanted to miss a thing! Unfortunately, I had to switch last minute due to my preeclampsia, but he stayed by my side the entire way. He was in the room with me during my c-section and held my hand the entire time. He told me hilarious dad jokes to keep my spirits up before and during my c-section! He truly made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world, even when I was hospitalized and hadn’t showered in a week. My son and I had to stay in the hospital for a week after he was born, and my husband took off an extra week from work so he could stay with us the entire time—he never left my side. And to watch a man with two daughters hold his son for the first time, and to watch how much he loves his son more and more every day, just melts my heart.
Matt Mich
By: Jenn Mich
My husband may drive me nuts, but he works 6 days a week more than full-time at his regular job, comes home, drives girls to cheer practices, cooks dinner every night, cleans the house, does the laundry, and takes care of kids that aren’t his. He is just all around great!
He is there for us when we need him!
Brent Hollis
By: Nicole Hodgkiss
The fact that he goes to work every day even though he hates his job just so the kids can have a roof over their heads.
He’s super amazing with my special needs sister. I always looked for someone who was really good with her and when the two of them hit it off before we even started dating, I knew he was the one. He can handle my crazy and doesn’t judge it and honestly really balances me out well.
We love time spent outside doing things in nature and watching our kids enjoy childhood.
During birth, he found a way to make it possible even though he wasn’t totally for it. He was amazing (to the best of his ability because I was MISERABLE) during labor. Even though I needed to be transferred to the hospital, he was great with helping me get everything ready to go.
Darren J Osche
By: Marlee Osche
He has always been a great husband and dad, but this pregnancy has been kicking my butt. He has stepped up in every way… working full time and over time as well as picking up my slack at home and taking the boys when I need to rest. He amazes me in the ways he has grown as a partner and caretaker over our three different pregnancies!
He is a really hard worker and he has a huge heart ❤️. I knew he was going to be a great dad because he was always playing with children when we were with family.
I am looking forward to zoo trips and swimming, and making both of our boys feel loved and supported as we transition to a family of 5.
We will be having our first baby at home with the Pittsburgh Midwife team in October ❤️
Robert Lipscomb
By: Lindsay Lipscomb
My husband is incredible because of his persistence in pushing past his comfort zone and learning to be flexible in my crunchy ways. He listens and is open to adjusting his thinking about how it’s best to raise our girls. He may not always understand why I’m suggesting something but he trusts me and is always behind me 100%
When I’m at my worst, he’s always there to tap in. He’s kind, loving, and strong.
Chad Stemmler
By: Brianne Kemp
He is present and patient. He helps with the hard stuff (discipline, hair combing, homework) and the fun stuff (pool days, guest reader at school, play time). Our son is now 7 but he supported us through our 2.5 year breastfeeding journey. He lets our son explore without judgment and just be a kid having fun and learning.
He is patient and he is kind.
We were with the Midwives at Magee but he was great during my labor. My water broke at our office and it was an intense 25 hrs, 3 hrs of pushing, and a C-section. He was supportive and encouraging as we moved and tried different positions and he dealt with me yelling things like “look down there, do you see anything coming out?” Hahaha.
Joshua DuBois
By: Saundra DuBois
Over the past 11 years, I’ve watched him become a truly great father, always looking for ways to grow himself more as a father and invest in the lives of his children. First and foremost, he’s a spiritual leader in our home by teaching our children how to seek Jesus and encouraging them to look to Him for their strength to walk out each day, shining Jesus’ light in a dark world. He is involved in each of our kiddo’s activities, not only by showing up to watch them participate in different activities but teaching them through their daily lives, getting down on all their different levels, from teaching in our children’s classes at church to teaching them sports in the backyard, from teaching our girls to clean bathrooms to sitting down and reading books with our boys. He loves playing board games with our children, wrestling with our boys, and has recently been playing a game with our four oldest where they randomly choose days to have Nerf attacks right when he gets home from work. He keeps a Nerf gun in his car and he’ll sneak through the yard or house starting a Nerf war or vice versa and they are all giggles as he’s walking in the door after work. He works hard for his family and provides for us well, he checks on me throughout the day and is always there with an encouraging word or prayer when some days are just rough or don’t go at all as planned. At the end of the day, when kids are in bed, more often than not, you’ll find him still investing in and working hard for his family by folding laundry, working on a project for his children, planning for kids’ classes at church, cleaning our bathrooms or sitting and talking about our children’s victories and struggles, discussing ways to praise them in the victories and encourage them through their struggles.
He was never intimidated being around children, from watching his very first interactions with my nieces and nephews I knew he’d be a great father someday. He’s patient, caring, shows genuine interest, loves the Lord, he’s fun, active, works hard, he’s creative, silly, loves playing board games and sports, and just an all-around great guy!
We had our fifth child at home just under a year ago and he was my true calm, amazing strength and support as we welcomed our son into our home minutes before our midwife arrived. Things went fast once labor started, but he had everything laid out and ready to go without any prompting from me and he was so supportive and encouraging telling me I was doing such a good job and staying so calm. He did an incredible job helping me deliver our baby boy. He was a true blessing to me and I loved the experience of getting to do labor with just my husband right with me.
Jake Sullivan
By: Erin Sullivan
Disappointed when our two-month-old newborn started to NOT require her many “daddy” feedings in the middle of the night because he didn’t get that extra special time snuggle time with her, it solidified for me just how amazing Jake is as a “girl” dad and partner in general. And yes- Dadu (what our oldest daughter, 7, calls him) would/does take the graveyard shift so that I could/can rest. Jake has been a completely present, patient, loving parent since the day our oldest was born in 2016. Even with the onset of 40 😉 and some major back pain lately, as well as working full-time, he knows his responsibility as both partner/husband and dad. So often, he will come home and throw on his tennis shoes to take Sydney to practice her softball skills or play those many made-up/creative games that 7-year-olds love to play. Now – I also work full-time- and let me tell you…mustering up that “play” energy is tough stuff! HE was the one who also planned an entire Disney trip for us last Summer and did so just for his little girl, who he calls his “little buddy.” His title is Dad/Dadu, and within that alone, he’s SUPER to us and for us.
I’m going to actually ask my daughter to answer this one even though it may seem a bit unconventional. Sydney says, ”He is super nice, cuddly, and when I am around him, I am happy.” I think that those sentiments speak volumes as to the type of father that he is and that I always knew he would be. He is gentle, kind, patient, caring, loyal, and yes – as Sydney says – cuddly. :)”
Michael Talarico
By: Tiffany Talarico
He is selfless. He always put his family first. There isn’t anything he can’t do, and he doesn’t give up! He uplifts me when I’m down and picks up the slack without asking. There is no task too big or small. Our family would be lost without him! He is super in every way and deserves to win because of everything he does for his family!
His calm nature, easy to talk to, and how much he makes me laugh. I couldn’t imagine not having him in my life. He is my balance and best friend!
I had TWO births with Pittsburgh Midwife. The first he felt uneasy not knowing what to expect. But I never knew he felt that way. He was not comfortable with blood, but still caught my daughter. He was supportive every step of the way and took amazing care of me and the family following the baby. Birth #3 was a surprise. He comforted me every step of the way. He is the definition of love, strength, and dedication. He is better than the man I always thought I would be married to.
There is nothing he wouldn’t do to make me and or our children happy.
Jordan Herboth
By: Sarah Herboth
He is so present with our family, active and patient with the kids and always my support.
He’s humble, gentle, calm, patient, fun, cheerful.
