Disc jock loves being a ‘girl dad’

Andre Brown is committed to playing a major part in his daughters' lives, even taking them to the hairdresser, a role that is normally placed on moms.

On a recent visit to the salon with his three-year-old daughter, Eliahna, the bond between them was on full display. As Eliahna squirmed and cried while her hair was being combed, Brown soothed her with a calm, steady voice, assuring her, "It soon done." His gentle words worked like a charm, and Eliahna settled down, looking at her father with awe and admiration.

"I'm proud of you," she said, a statement that, despite not being new to Brown, still had him admitting, "I got a little teary-eyed when I heard it." The 35-year-old Mountain View native's commitment to fatherhood goes beyond just salon visits.

"It's not really much of a technique," he explained. "You can't necessarily deal with a child aggressively. They want to be comforted. So you have to be patient with them and talk to her. So it's like a negotiation. It's like a bomb. So you have to take your time and try to diffuse it."

This patience and understanding are qualities that Brown has developed over time, influenced by his own upbringing.

"I lost my mom at the age of 17, so all I have now is my dad. Having them kind of helped me steer my way through life, because getting older now, I realise that life is a puzzle, and if you don't really have that strong family backing to kind of guide you, you'll be lost," he said.

Brown is determined to be there for his two daughters -- the other is 11 -- ensuring they have the support and guidance they need. Being a 'girl dad', Brown finds joy in the special moments they share.

"It's not easy, but you have to remember sometimes that you're doing it for them. Because you want to give them a life that you yourself may never have had. So you want to try your best to ensure that they're okay. Once they're okay, I'm okay," the disc jockey highlighted.

Hands-on approach

He takes pride in his hands-on approach, despite the societal norms that often place certain responsibilities on mothers.

"You rarely see Jamaican dads taking their daughters to the hair salon or even just being active in their daughters' beautification. But there are many dads out there that can do their daughters' hair. One of my friends cornrow his daughter's hair, the whole works," he said. While he admits that he hasn't yet mastered all the skills, he is keen to learn.

"I can pull out the hair and catch it in one," he joked. Father's Day this year will be a bit different for Brown, as Eliahna will be out of the country.

"I feel a little way about it, but you know, I want her to experience travelling; she is not too young," he said. For Brown, being a present and active father involves more than just financial support.

"Spending time with them is also vital as well; you know, going out with them, playing with them, taking care of them overall is a very important thing. The finances is just one aspect of it, but realising as a human being you have to take care of another human being, you must also factor in that, because money can't grow them."

Brown advised other men not to take on the responsibility of being fathers if they are not financially stable enough.

"Because it's not just buying diaper and feed and everything ... but when they start school, when they are in college, even when they pass 20, you still have to ensure they are well. You still have to be a parent, regardless of whether they're big enough to take care of themselves," he said.

"If you're a good father, continue to do so because even when no one else recognises it, your child will," he added.