Parent Profile: Dr. Bill McHenry
by Melissa Blair / photo by Erin Treadway
Dr. Bill McHenry. Spouse: Melissa McHenry. Children: Meghan, 11, Billy, 8, Kati, 6 and Shane, 4. Originally from Pennsylvania. Occupation: Dean of Graduate Studies and Research, Texas A&M University-Texarkana
What are you currently reading?
I am re-reading the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Author Conan Doyle. His writing style, character development and detailed story telling is remarkable.
What’s the favorite book you’ve read to your kids?
Danny and the Dinosaur. My mother and sisters read it to me as a child and I love to hear the story and watch it unfold through my children’s eyes.
When did you know you wanted to be a parent?
I suspect I knew early in life that family was to be cherished and imagine that I always knew I would be a parent. Missy and I waited a while after we were married to start having kids (about 10 years) – basically once we were settled with a career.
Parent gear you can’t live without?
Credit card or cash – some things simply require money…so credit cards or cash are good things! Sneakers. Keeping up with 4 kids is an exercise in exercising without trying.
If you could go back in time to a moment with your child when would it be?
For each of my children, it would be the first moment I held them. The miracle of having a precious human being in your arms that you have been waiting so long to meet still leaves me breathless.
What advice do you have for new parents?
Don’t drop your child!
If you could teleport to anywhere in the world to spend a day by yourself, where would you go?
I would go to Scotland and spend the day golfing (but I would sneak my wife into the teleporter so we could go together).
I wish my kids would eat….
This depends on which kid…some love my chili – I wish they all did…some love my steaks…I wish they all did.
My kids won’t eat, and I won’t even eat….
Liver.
What is your proudest parenting moment?
It sounds corny, but I am blessed to have many moments in life where I feel proud of my kids. It may be a moment when one of the older kids is reading to one of the younger ones, or when I watch a beautiful and kind interaction among or between my kids. Simply put, I am boastful and proud of my kids many times throughout the day. I look for the good in them and therefore see a lot of things that make me proud.
What is your favorite childhood movie?
“Red Dawn” – the original, not the remake.
What were you most terrified of as a new parent?
Dropping our child. I mean that both literally and figuratively. The responsibility, ownership, and absolute reliance each of our children had on my wife and me meant that we had to take complete care of them at all times.
What is your favorite thing to do with your kids?
Play outside in the yard. We play basketball, soccer, baseball, tag, hide and seek, etc.
What do you hope to teach your kids?
I hope to teach them to have the confidence to take care of themselves–to be independent.
Do you have a favorite family tradition?
Going to the beach each summer. We actually started that tradition this last summer but had such a great time we will definitely be back again next year.
What is your favorite time spent as a family?
When we travel together we have some amazingly funny discussions. We always seem to have a good time on our trips regardless of the destination. We certainly do enjoy the journey.
A product you swear by?
Children’s Tylenol. Band aids. Hot dogs.
Best parenting advice you’ve ever received?
Cherish them today as tomorrow they will be different. This has been realized in my life as I have watched with astonishment the speed with which our kids have grown up. As I blink, they grow smarter, taller, stronger.
Is there anything new you’d like to try with your family this year?
When you are as content as I am, it is hard to think of new things to do…we as a family have been fortunate to have had many great experiences together. I suspect one thing that would be fun that we have not tried is camping in the winter.
