SHOWING his children they can do anything they put their minds to, Windale father-of-five Brendan McCracken taught himself how to skateboard in order to teach them, after they picked up an interest in the sport.
He couldn't say no when his three daughters Akeeba, 11, Laylah, 8, and Peyton, 5, decided they wanted to give skateboarding a go.
"About 18 months ago they decided they wanted to try skateboarding, so we went to a couple of skating lessons and they really liked it," the Windale father said.
His two sons Seth, 13 and Nate, 12 jumped on board soon after and now they spend as many afternoons and weekends at the skatepark, together as a family.
"They've all really got the hang of it and now we go to different skateparks and try them out, we've gone up as far as Nelson Bay and down to Bateau Bay," he said.
He said by throwing himself in the deep end, his children could see there was nothing to be scared of.
"I started rolling around the skate park and the kids grew confident from seeing me get in there and five it a go," he said.
They grew so confident that now they're even outshining their dad, performing tricks and showing off their skills.
"I am so proud. They do stuff that I'm scared to do. It's amazing just watching them dropping off ramps, and seeing their faces light up when they succeed. It all makes it worth it," he said.
With Father's Day on Sunday, September 1 the skating family has plans to get a skateboard session in.
"We live up the road from a skatepark so I think they're planning on making me brekkie and we'll definitely get a skate in," Mr McCracken said.
"I love being a dad."
