Our Family Matters column is dedicated to showcasing the talents and community contributions of Toledo parents. For this issue, we asked readers to submit nominations of amazing local parents who deserve a pat on the back. Read these profiles to learn more about two standout couples.
Andrea and Steven Geisel
Genoa
How old were you when you first became a mom or dad?
Andrea: I was 28 and Steven was 30 when we had our first child.
Tell us about your child.
Andrea: We have a beautiful baby girl who just turned one. Her name is Juliet. She is a loving baby and very intuitive. She loves climbing on everything, and it’s never a dull moment with her. She is our first and only baby at the moment.
Are you raising your child in a similar way to how you were raised? If there are differences, what are they?
Andrea: I feel like I take aspects of how I was raised and use that as a guide, but all-in-all I just try to have fun and be engaged in her life. I try to give her everything and make sure she is happy and healthy.
Steven: I feel like I am raising our daughter differently than how I was raised. I have a more balanced parenting style, but it’s all a new experience for me. I guess I just give her more than what I got. We try to do more family things when we can and play with toys.
What’s your favorite thing to do with your kid on an outing in Toledo?
Steven: We have just started taking trips to the Toledo Zoo to see all the different animals. We also plan on going to some Mud Hens games.
What is your favorite thing about your partner and/or your child?
Andrea: There are so many favorite things I love about both my husband and my baby girl. I love that I have such a supportive husband, and he is funny and loving. I love how loving and funny Juliet is. She is a trip! She is really coming into her personality. Her laugh and babbling are my favorites.
Steven: My favorite thing about my wife is watching her be a mom and how loving she is. My favorite thing about Juliet is that, when I come home from work, she has the biggest smile on her face and says, “Dada.” Also I just love her. She is my world.
Mary and Ben Bockert
Toledo
How old were you when you first became a mom or dad?
Mary: I was 30 years old when I became a momma.
Ben: 34.
Tell us about your children.
Mary: Annora is 11 years old. She loves animals, reading, acting, singing, and music. She taught herself how to play the ukulele and has quite an ear for music. She is a beautiful soul who loves her friends and family.
Annora entertains all of us through the plays she has written. She also enjoys playing with her younger siblings and friends. She can appreciate a good book and amazes her dad and me at how quickly she can read through one. Her imagination is amazing… she can take you to far-off lands. It wouldn’t surprise me if she wrote a book one day.
Delise is eight years old. She loves ballet, serving others, cooking, baking, and arts and crafts. She empathizes with others and is a great helper to anyone. Delise is a wonderful friend and gives the best advice. She wears her heart on her sleeve and is a sensitive soul. She is very organized and loves a great conversation with those she loves and trusts. She has the wonderful ability to make anyone she is around feeling at peace and loved.
Tawny is five years old. She loves animals, her best friend (Barley our 2.5-year-old pup), playing with her friends, and gymnastics. She can make anyone smile with her innocent silliness. She loves to tell a good joke and, when you can’t find her, you can bet she is snuggling with Barley. She is always ready to strike a pose for a picture.
Tawny is quick to tell you how much you mean to her and how much she loves you, and she lets everyone know they are important to her and that they matter. She is confident and a natural-born leader. She can make a gloomy day bright just by entering a room.
Ben: Annora has a fantastic imagination that has led to a love of arts. She also loves to sing, and act. She has a big heart for animals too.
Delise is a determined young girl who likes things to be done well and does her best in everything she does. She loves dance, sports, and spending time with her family.
Tawny is kind and encouraging. She loves her sisters and makes them laugh with her jokes. She is always up for a board game, Barbies or dress up.
Are you raising your children in a similar way to how you were raised? If there are differences, what are they?
Mary: My parents divorced when I was very young so I had a split upbringing. Both sets of my step-parents and parents have been great examples of a loving marriage and family. I was able to use those examples, along with watching my husband’s family dynamic, which was very different from my own, to raise the girls in a way that makes them feel secure and loved, all while following our own set of parenting guidelines. My husband’s parents are still happily married. He didn’t experience the messiness of having two families and new traditions. Ben and I have done a good job of incorporating both family’s traditions into our family dynamic.
Ben: Yes. My parents raised me with a biblical foundation. They taught me that God loves me and the world around me, and in response to his love, I should love God and love others. They taught me that every person is special and unique, that they matter to God, so they should matter to me. We are doing our best to help our children see those truths as well.
What’s your favorite thing to do with your kids on an outing in Toledo?
Mary: We love going to the Toledo Zoo. The girls love to see the animals and picnic there. We are members, so it makes it easy to stop in on a whim and spend a couple of hours enjoying our awesome zoo.
Ben: We love spending time together at the Toledo Zoo. It is close to our house and offers so much for the kids to do. They love playing on the playgrounds, visiting the animals, and riding the train.
What is your favorite thing about your partner and/or your children?
Mary: I love us…all of it. I love the laughs, the memories being made, the love we have for one another, the days we stay up late to hang out a bit longer and the days we head to bed early so we have time to chat before the lights go out. I love being an intricate part of their lives and I love being a momma.
I love watching my husband with our girls. He doesn’t hesitate to play Barbies or to have a tea party with them. He takes each of them on Daddy/Daughter dates, and he shows them unconditional love. He’s the superhero and prince all bundled into one. He is the real deal and they know it. They know he loves them, cares for them and wants what is best for them.
Ben: My wife Mary is the most giving person I know. She always thinks of others first and sacrifices her needs for the needs of our family. She brings love and joy to those around her and truly is a light to others. My favorite thing about my kids is seeing them grow and mature. Each one is special, and it is fun watching them discover this truth.
