Experiences of fathers from 19 to 73By LISA APPLETON Name: John LeBlanc Age: 35 Daughters: Emily, 7; Josey, 5. John LeBlanc’s love for his family is evident just by talking with him. When he is not working at State Farm Insurance, he is hiking or biking the trails of Cosmo Park, Rock Bridge State Park or the MKT trail with his wife, Eugenie, and two daughters, Emily and Josey. Almost everything in LeBlanc’s life has changed since becoming a father. But the major change is caring for a wife and children, rather than just thinking about himself. “The biggest change would be the way you look at the world. You aren’t just thinking about the tomorrow. You are looking to the future and thinking about the best interest of your family,” he said. As a father, he is surprised by how even and calm he can be under pressure. “I can be more patient than I ever thought I could,” he said. LeBlanc is just beginning to figure out why his parents made certain decisions when he was a child. “As a kid, I never understood why they made me go to bed at 8, and now I know why,” he said. “All of those things you remember your parents doing, you catch yourself doing. Then I think, well I guess they were right.” He said he does see some of the same behaviors in both his father and himself. “He is a very calm person and not easily excitable," he said about his father. "And I’ve become that way, at least when it comes to the children.” He believes every father should practice two principles. “Patience and perspective. Make sure you have your focus on what is really important. The other stuff takes care of itself,” he said. His wife noted that he is very loving and compassionate with their two girls. Eugenie LeBlanc is a stay-at-home mom and said her husband’s selfless nature is the reason she can do that. She also emphasized the amount of time that he spends with the girls. “He always takes the time to be there for them. It’s not just me. He is definitely a part of their lives,” she said. LeBlanc has lots of long-term goals for his daughters and high hopes for their future. “(I hope) they can figure out what they really want to do with their life and that we can find a way to make sure they can pursue that,” he said.
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 IVY ASHE/ Missourian John LeBlanc and daughters Emily, 7 (front), and Josey, 5 (back), bike the MKT Trail to Twin Lakes on June 12. The three start their route at the Scott Boulevard and Vawter School Road entrance, and have ridden as far as Flat Branch Park and back (nearly 9 miles). |