It’s always tough when a parent has to miss out on important life experiences with their kids because of unprecedented circumstances. Dwyane Wade still rues not being part of the journey when his son Zaire was away trying to go pro in basketball. He is now keen to make amends with daughter Zaya, whom he’s going to drop off at college later this summer.
Advertisement
Zaire Wade opted out of college and decided to go pro instead. He joined a prep school called Brewster Academy after high school, where he made basketball his focus. Zaire had scholarship offers from several colleges after heading Brewster’s national program, but he instead went to the G-League.
While Dwyane was proud of his son, the lack of father-son college experiences made him somewhat sad. He also had to drop him off during COVID-19, making regular visits impossible.
“I dropped Zaire off at Brewster Academy, which is [a] prep school. That’s as close as I got to dropping the kid off. That was during COVID. It wasn’t the experience. So, I haven’t gotten this college experience with my kid,” Wade shared on Time Out.
All of the circumstances during the time added up to a transition period that should’ve felt more momentous to Wade as well as Zaire. Wade feels he missed out on a core memory. But with Zaya going off to college at the end of the summer, Wade is going to make the most of it.
“My daughter is going to college later in the summer, towards the end of it. So, orientation, I gotta go drop her off and be there. And then she’s moving into her place,” said Wade.
“I get to be a part of that. Those are all of the things I want to do. Like, I’m excited for it. And you’re thankful that your kids want you to do those things with them,” he added.
It’s heartwarming to know how close Wade is to his children. He’s always said that Zaya trusts him quite a bit and that the two talk for hours sometimes.
“We have regular conversations about anything. Chicken fingers, French fries, mustard… I always create moments with my village, with my people. Especially my kids. I’m going to find these moments to create with them,” Wade once said.
It’s important for a dad of Wade’s status and professional commitments to continually find those moments to share with his kids. He’s a busy guy with a ton of people pulling him in different directions. So, kudos to him for always carving out time to spend with the family.
All in all, Wade is one of the biggest fatherly figures in NBA culture. He has at times advised on how to become a better parent.
And he yet again showed in his latest podcast why he’s such a good dad. It’s not just that he’s going to be there for his kids, it’s that he wants to be there.
