'Wonderful' dad earns Father's Day tribute

JOSEPH JOHNSON/The Press

FATHER'S DAY TRIBUTE: Brent Langford with his children, twins Benjamin and Rosie, one, Grace, three and Jessie, two. Despite the hectic lifestyle Brent would not have it any other way.

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By day, Brent Langford deals with a class of energetic five-year-olds. By night, he is dad to four soon to be five children under three.

The Christchurch teacher would not have it any other way.

"They take your energy but they give it straight back to you," he said. "If you're prepared to live life at their pace, then it's a great lifestyle."

His wife, Elisabeth, who is seven months pregnant, took time out of her hectic home life this week to write to The Press on behalf of children Grace, three, Jessie, two, and one-year-old twins Benjamin and Rosie to mark their appreciation of Dad for Father's Day tomorrow.

"People often ask how we cope with so many little ones," she wrote.

"Having a wonderful, supportive father like Brent is one of the keys to making a loving family home. He is kind, fair, funny, easy-going and a good listener to our stories."

The family members have made a Father's Day collage of Langford's contributions, including his puzzle and porridge-making skills.

To top it off, he is handy around the house, having just installed a new bath in their Papanui home.

Grace said her father told funny jokes and was good at doing "trampoline bombs".

Langford said fatherhood had become easier with each addition to his family.

"When you've had a few you learn pretty quickly what to expect from the new ones," he said. "One of the great things is getting to know your kids and seeing their personalities come out."

Langford, a Middleton Grange teacher, said he had become accustomed to his work and home life constantly revolving around children.

 He does not foresee a lot of time spent relaxing tomorrow.

"I'll just be spending the day with the kids and their cousins as well. I might get a quiet moment when they go to bed."

While five children might be a lot for some parents, Elizabeth Langford said: "You never know, we might be having triplets."