Lara with his wife Penelope, daughter, Zoe, sons, Julio and Marcus, and dog Millie at their home in Clearwater.
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dr. cesa r lara
Photo by John Kantor
Married for 27 years, Dr. Cesar Lara and wife Penelope have always put family first. Their children, Julio, Marcus and zoe, are their inspiration. Lara calls them “a gift from God for which i am forever grateful.” What’s the most rewarding part of being a dad? My children’s ability to take me into their world and share their joy with me. in that moment, their smiles and eyes reflect the expansiveness of their imagination. What is your favorite thing to do with your kids? Travel. i like to share in their curiosity and sense of adventure. i love moments when we can converse and help strengthen their wings and eyes as they learn to fly. What is the most challenging part of fatherhood? Coming to grips with the reality that there is no manual. Each child has a unique dream, personality and gift. The challenges are as much reflective of our
ability to support and understand as they are of our inability to appreciate the gift that each brings forth through their being.
rooms or talking to them about drinking, sex or self-respect, my gift is my ability to relate to them as a wise and nurturing father.
What role model in your life influenced the kind of father you are? My mother and father taught me the gift of understanding and knowing that each head is its own world. They taught me to work hard and recognize that when others tell you what you can’t do, it reflects their limits not yours. I was taught to pray and give to those less fortunate. i have always felt loved.
What advice would you give other fathers? it is a gift. Enjoy and appreciate the moments.
As a father, how do you view your responsibilities? i am old-fashioned in that i see myself as the rock by which my family finds support and a stepping stone for my children’s journey. My responsibilities are open ended, Penelope is a great partner and very supportive in assuring that we have a unified message. Whether it is doing their chores, pushing harder toward a goal, cleaning their
What makes you happy? As a father, it’s that moment when each of your children is accounted for, each safe, happy and under one roof with me.
It is often difficult to balance a career with spending time with your family. How do you deal with this and make time for them? it is a conscious decision, and although not always perfectly executed, they are the priority in my life.
Where is your favorite place to go in Tampa? i love to go to the Straz Center and enjoy a great play or be mesmerized by a great opera.
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Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine
June 2011
TBParenting.com