“Fatherhood is the joy of your three-year-old wanting to hold your hand as he falls asleep and the frustration of him making you late for work the next morning when he refuses to put on his pants.”

Matt Clark – father to Rowan Sarmac Clark, age 5 and Quillan Kenneth Sarmac Clark, age 3. Executive Director of Johnson Creek Watershed Council by day. Kids songwriter extraordinaire by night. www.mattclarkmusic.com

Q. What do you like to do on sunny days in PDX?
A. On a hot summer day, we like to go splash in the water at Peninsula Park. I also predict that bikes will become a big part of our sunny day repertoire. Rowan got a bike for his fifth birthday.

Q. What do you like to do on rainy days in PDX?
A. Well, of course we love going to listen to music. The ABC Guys and Mo Phillips are two of our faves. OMSI is a perennial rainy day favorite in our family (and I’ve been going since I was a kid — when OMSI was still up by the zoo. I still could sit and watch the Gravitram machine for hours).

Q. How do you balance being a dad with other priorities (work, hobbies, etc)?
A. Having a strong support system is key. My wife Abby and I try to accommodate each others hobbies and give each other some “me” time every week, knowing how important it is. I’m also lucky that my parents live in town. My kids see their Nini and Baba at least once a week, often more than that. If Abby and I have night meetings for work, my folks often watch the boys. And I get cranky occasionally, when things are hectic, like now when I have a broken foot.

Q. What’s your favorite story/memory of being with your kid(s)?
A. My favorite memories are the day to day things: reading and snuggling together before bed, singing together etc. I also like the story of one of my kids (I won’t say which) who was just potty training. He flushed the toilet and said gleefully, “See you next weekend, poo poo.”