Craig Melvin Says Being a Better Dad to His Kids Was 'Motivation' to Reconcile with His Father

Craig Melvinis reflecting on how his relationship with his father directly impacts his role as a dad of two.

“We want every guy to be a great dad. Well, if you grew up in a house with no father or no father figure or dad, how is it reasonable to expect that you can be a great father? If you can’t see something, it’s very hard to be something,” explains Melvin, who shares sonDelano, 8, and daughterSybil, 5, with wifeLindsay Czarniak.

In order to “break the cycle” of unhealthy parenting behaviors, Melvin says forgiveness was key.

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Lindsay Czarniak, Craig Melvin and their children.Courtesy Fox Sports

“It wasn’t the kind of relationship that I wanted my son to see. It was more important to me that my children came to know my parents, their grandfather,” he explains. “That was part of my motivation.”

“Years ago, my therapist said, ‘When you have kids, one of the chief goals is just to not screw them up. You don’t want to put all the baggage that you have on your kids,’ " he recalls. “I had to break that cycle. And part of reconciling with my dad, it helped break the cycle.”

Craig Melvin with his dad.Jerri Graham

Since reconciling with his father, Melvin says his dad is now “the kind of grandfather that I wish I’d had as a father.”

“I’m proud of the fact that we brought him back into the fold,” adds the NBC journalist. “He’s making up for lost time in a big way.”

source: people.com