Reality Check – Ryan Vermillion

Take a peek inside the life of local dad Ryan Vermillion and get a glimpse of everyday parenting — from the madness to the mess-ups!

Vital Stats: Ryan Vermillion, 46
Head Athletic Trainer and Physical Therapist for the Carolina Panthers, who enjoys being active with his family and at St. Mark Catholic Church and School.

Family Tree:
Married to Margie, also a physical therapist/athletic trainer, and Dad to Erin 17, Riley, 15, Ryan Jr,. 13, and Alice 10. The family, who lives in Cornelius on Lake Norman, also has two dogs — Tari, a Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Samye, a shitzu — as well as a turtle, Harry, and two goldfish.

Get Real:
Our home is a combination of controlled chaos and scheduling conflicts to complete organization, depending on the time of year. I believe my wife and kids do better during football season. I make it worse — when the season ends, I am home more often and I think my “help” may make it more confusing.

“Don’t You Dare”:
What really push my buttons are being disrespectful and short answers. If I am asking a question, don’t give me a one-word answer, which teenage girls love. I feel I miss a lot of time with the kids during the football season, so I want to know everything.

Parenting Rule #1:
No lying. If something has gone wrong, and you are to blame, stand up. One lie always leads to another.

Fave Phrase:
God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason; you should listen twice as much as you speak.

Spill It:
Living on the lake can lead to many fun and embarrassing moments. Once, my oldest daughter did not secure our kayak, and it floated away from the dock. The lake police retrieved it for me, and when they brought it back, it hit the dock and shot back out into the water. I reached to grab it (and the ladder) and lost my balance, and I fell into the water with the ladder hitting me on the head. When I got out of the water, my family and the police were having a great laugh at my expense.

Top Tip:
Your kids will live up or down to your expectations — have high expectations, and they will live up to them. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Remember, you were their age once, and you made it.