Eric was nominated by his wife, Carmen, who had these sweet things to say about her husband: “He is an amazing father to our 3-year-old son, Derek. He is very patient, understanding, empathetic, and excited about life,” all qualities Eric employs in his work as a special education teacher. “He is truly an inspiration and someone people love to be around,” Carmen told us.

When this Elk Grove dad isn’t teaching or hanging with the family, he can usually be found at the gym or doing something sports-related (“He is a sports fanatic!” says Carmen of her 49ers fan). Carmen loves to watch her husband play with their son—and the family’s puppy. “He is a kid at heart,” she says, “and he always has a smile on his face.”

Asked to describe himself in three words, Eric responded, “Energetic, compassionate and fun.” We couldn’t agree more!

If I could choose any superpower…
I would have the Force, like Luke Skywalker.

I can’t live without…
My family.

The best part of being a dad is…
Being able to see my son grow and develop.

If you told me 10 years ago where I am today, I’d be surprised that…
I would be able to take care of my family as successfully as I am.

My proudest parenting moment (so far) was…
Seeing my son receive his first “report card” from daycare.

One of my proudest moments—apart from parenting—was…
Getting acknowledged for my work.

The best part of teaching kids with special needs is…
Seeing them make advancements.

The most challenging part is…
Some of their advancements may happen slowly, so you have to be aware of every detail.

When I need to relieve stress, I head straight for…
The gym.

A day with plenty of “me-time” would involve…
Watching a sporting event.

My favorite junk food fix is…
Potato chips.

Nothing makes me laugh like…
Joking with my friends.

My favorite place to hang out with my family is…
Disneyland.

My favorite local spot to bring out-of-towners is…
Old Sacramento.

The best decision I ever made was…
Becoming a special education teacher.

I believe…
You have to take time to enjoy all of the good things that happen in life.

If you know a local mom or dad you’d like other readers to meet, e-mail amy@sacramentoparent.com.