Celebrating Father’s Day!

Bachelor Nation fans first met J.P. Rosenbaum on Season 7 of “The Bachelorette,” where he met the mother of his two kids, Ashley Hebert.

While J.P. and Ashley are no longer a couple, the two still co-parent their adorable kids, son Ford and daughter Essie.

Now, as we get ready to celebrate Father’s Day, J.P. is stopping by to chat with BachelorNation.com exclusively about Father’s Day and what it means to him to be a dad.

Check out J.P.’s full interview below!

Bachelor Nation: Happy Father’s Day, J.P.! What does being a dad mean to you?

J.P. Rosenbaum: Thank you so much! This might sound like a bit of a cliché, but becoming a dad is absolutely the most rewarding gift I have ever been given. Raising children so that they grow up to be everything they dream to be, and everything you wish for them to be, and in general just decent and kind human beings is a responsibility like no other. There will be difficult days, happy days, sad days, frustrating days, proud days, angry days, and any other kind of day you can possibly imagine. Feeling all the “feels” is what life is all about, and at the end of the day, knowing that your children love you unconditionally no matter what, THAT is what puts a smile on my face and fills my heart with something that words cannot even describe.

BN: That is not cliché at all! So special. What is your ideal way to celebrate Father’s Day?

JR: Father’s Day is really all about family time. At this stage of my kids’ lives, it’s less about what I want to do and more about what will make them happy.

BN: That’s really sweet. How has fatherhood changed you?

JR: The moment your children are born, your focus and priorities completely shift. I wouldn’t consider myself to be a selfish person, however before kids, life was all about meeting my and my partners’ needs. Once you become a father, the kids are all that matter and there’s nothing you wouldn’t do for them!

BN: Absolutely. What has surprised you most about fatherhood?

JR: The most surprising thing about fatherhood is all of the sacrifices you have to make in order to keep the machine in motion. It becomes all about coordinating life around the schedules and needs of the kids. It’s one of those things that I certainly took for granted while growing up.

BN: That makes a lot of sense. Do you have any advice for fellow parents?

JR: Have patience and rely on your support system, whether that’s your significant other, family members, friends, etc. You will most certainly think to yourself that you’re doing things wrong, but every parent has been in your shoes. Do your best to create a happy, healthy, and balanced environment for your kids and just do your best. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes or to reach out to people for help.

BN: That’s great advice! How do you think your kids would describe you as a dad?

JR: Mean. Haha, just kidding, although I am definitely the more strict parent. I would hope they’d describe me as fun, loving, and supportive.

BN: And do you have a favorite part of fatherhood?

JR: Seeing all the “firsts.” The first soccer game. The first dance class. The first time riding a bike. All of those are moments in life that only happen once and are absolutely priceless.

BN: Aww, so true and so sweet. As a dad, what do you hope your children learn from you?

JR: To follow your dreams. To never give up. To be kind to others. To enjoy life. To be open-minded and understand that there are a lot of people in this world, each of whom is different.

BN: Those are some really great lessons. And lastly, what is your proudest moment as a dad?

JR: There are so many moments that make me proud. At this age, the kids are still doing lots of things for the first time. Seeing their smiles when I first taught them how to ride a bike, that was pretty special.