CBS Morning dads Tony Dokoupil, Vladimir Duthiers and Nate Burleson on raising children in NYC and their bond off screen – exclusive

For Nate Burleson, Tony Doukopil and Vladimir Duthiers, working for CBS Mornings is not only a job, it is a household.

“There’s not per week that goes by the place I do not ask one or each of them about one thing that Céline has achieved or one thing that I am nervous about,” Vladimir tells HELLO! of his 16-month-old daughter, whom he welcomed with spouse Marian Wang in February 2023. 

“We’re one massive joyful household,” provides Nate, who’s dad to 3 kids with spouse Atoya: sons Nehemiah, 18, and Nate Burleson II, and 14-year-old daughter Mia. “It looks as if day-after-day, we’re simply getting nearer and nearer and actually engaged on that chemistry that makes us so relatable to the viewer.” 

For Father’s Day this 12 months, Vlad and Tony – who’s dad to 2 teenage kids who dwell in Israel together with his ex-wife, and son Teddy, 5, and daughter Eloise, three, with spouse Katy Tur – shall be spending time with their households. 

“I am on a kick these days the place I attempt to make Sundays about going open air so we’ll do one thing open air for positive. Pack a lunch, have a picnic. It is nice,” says Tony. 

For HELLO!, the three anchors, who work alongside Gayle King on CBS, talk about their traditions, what they realized from their very own fathers, and simply what occurs when their kids come to set… 

What are your Father’s Day traditions together with your kids?

Nate: They permit me to sleep wherein would not occur usually, so it is deeply appreciated. They wish to give me breakfast in mattress, however I like getting up, going downstairs, sitting on the desk with them and consuming breakfast, speaking, and having one on one time with my household — unbothered and unplugged. 

Then after that, it is a shock. I will take flowers, I will make a journey to the spa, at this level I do not want something materialistic. To complete it off, I’d love a handwritten card, a handwritten notice, even a poem. That is normally the custom and another shock after that’s welcomed. 

Tony: I make pancakes within the morning and so they eat the pancakes, after which ask for extra pancakes, after which I make extra pancakes — and that seems like work however is a good pleasure, and I hope they’ve candy reminiscences about dad’s pancakes eternally. 

That’s my aim – to make them bear in mind these mornings and treasure them with their very own children ultimately. 

Vlad: We’ve not but established a Father’s Day custom as a result of that is solely my second one. One factor we now have achieved already, and I hope to proceed doing, is taking an image at a really particular location in Central Park close to the duck pond.

 We took an image there when she was only a new child, and my aim is to attempt to take an image there yearly together with her to rejoice our time collectively. 

I do know that she loves geese, and she or he loves that individual spot within the park. We’ll see if that sticks, that is the plan, for now! 

Do you’ve got any traditions from your individual childhood you’ve got handed on to your kids? 

Vlad: We’d get our dad a tie or a shirt, one thing that he would by no means purchase for himself after which we’d do a pleasant dinner that my mother would set up. 

Nate: I believe cooking is what I’ve handed on. I bear in mind cooking for my mother, cooking for my dad. That was our manner of displaying our appreciation. As children, we did not have cash to go purchase something, so I’d make one thing at college after which prepare dinner for my dad and mom. In order that’s one custom that I’ve handed on to my children. 

Tony: I had a extremely irregular childhood that I’ve tried to repeatedly remove from my children’ expertise.

My childhood rising up was very uncommon. Dad was not within the image for many of it, and when he was, he was a coked-up lunatic. And you may quote me on that. So I’ve prevented these specific vices. 

How has your time on CBS Mornings and dealing with one another formed you as fathers? 

Vlad: As a first-time father, being round Nate and Tony as I ready for Céline’s arrival was extremely inspirational and shifting. Tony took me purchasing for Céline earlier than Céline was born. He was the primary individual to show me the way to swaddle a child, the primary individual to elucidate to me that pacifiers got here in several sizes. Who knew! 

Most significantly, each Tony and Nate have been capable of sit down with me away from the present to present me recommendation and steering on what to anticipate and what to not count on, ensuring that I understood that whereas Céline was a part of me and a part of Marian, that she was going to have her personal likes, her personal dislikes, and she or he was going to be her personal individual.

I believe all first time dad and mom think about their kids shall be little carbon copies of themselves so it was good to listen to that, as a lot as you wish to see them as little variations of you, and in some methods they could be – however as a rule, they’re their very own selves. 

Tony: I inform Vlad every kind of stuff. In truth, I gave Vlad an enormous multi-page recommendation column of all of the issues I believe you want or do not want for a brand new child. I am continuously filling Vlad’s ear with in all probability undesirable recommendation. I’ve numerous opinions on what’s vital and what is not. 

With Nate, my older children are across the identical age as his daughter, so I am getting the early vibes that he is already lived by. We principally simply snort about how related all of them are and the way there’s one thing timeless about puberty. Cross tradition, cross nation, cross every part, and we now have actually nice laughs about that. 

Vlad: I ask Nate questions since he has children which might be older. I see the unimaginable job that he and Atoya have achieved and I’m blessed that they’re part of my dad-education. 

Nate particularly is there as type of a guidepost for me about issues that I can plan forward for and anticipate sooner or later. There’s not per week that goes by the place I do not ask one or each of them about one thing that Céline has achieved or one thing that I am nervous about and they’re both capable of give me some recommendation, steering or allay my fears. And I ask Gayle too! 

Nate: Tony and Vlad are superb. They’re like my brothers from a distinct mom. Tony is a extremely good husband and father as effectively. It is nice to work with him and we’re the identical age, so we predict lots alike, we now have to catch ourselves from simply being two teenage boys on the set and keep that sense of professionalism. 

Vlad is considered one of my favourite people, he is as pure and as genuine because it will get, he is clever and he is effectively versed, so good. I actually do love Vlad and now seeing him as a father, it’s a pleasure.

Tony: I’ve realized a lot from each of them. I’ve realized the way to be myself on tv on function. It’s a must to be genuine, you may’t be Mike Wallace, there’s just one Mike Wallace. 

You’ll be able to’t be any of those nice broadcasters from the previous, or any of those podcasters, or any of those folks on social media. It’s a must to be your self, and it’s a must to do it in a purposeful manner.

Vlad: At this level, simply 16 months into this lifelong journey, I’m in no place to supply these two Dads any recommendation. I’m nonetheless on coaching wheels. However I’ll wager they in all probability really feel the identical manner. 

After all, they’re additional down the trail than I’m however one factor that’s clear in watching them and studying from the dads in my life – being a father is a lifelong journey and my guess is that day-after-day they – and I – will be taught one thing new about myself, about Céline, about what I dream for her and the way I might help her obtain her hopes and goals. 

How do you steadiness loopy daytime anchor hours with being current in your younger kids? 

Vlad: Crucial factor is that when I’m with Céline, I’m current. I’m not there within the mornings when she wakes up and so my spouse Marian wakes her, feeds her breakfast, performs together with her earlier than the day begins after which walks her to high school. 

However I’m there to select her up from faculty day-after-day. We then stroll to Central Park the place we now have dinner, sit by the pond, feed the geese, go to the playground and luxuriate in ourselves. Once we come dwelling, I give her a shower, my spouse and I each play together with her after which put her to sleep.

These are extremely treasured moments to me. 

Tony: The hours for us are literally actually nice as a result of they’re so entrance loaded. You stand up earlier than daybreak and so they’re nonetheless sleeping, though we’re not succeeding in conserving all people sleeping of their beds at evening, and we do not thoughts, notably. 

Typically Eloise will come into our room round 1:00 AM and I will fall asleep in her mattress. Then I will stand up at 4:30AM, Teddy will hear me at all times, he is a lightweight sleeper, and I will have to hold him into our room, and he’ll sleep in our mattress for the remainder of the evening. In order that’s how the day begins, however the advantage of the day starting so early, and so sweetly, is that by 4:00pm that afternoon, it is already been a 12-hour day, and I can do issues with them.

It is humorous how the little issues are actually vital, I like being the one who does physician’s appointments, and taking them to the dentist, and working an errand. I like the baseline contributions to fatherhood. I believe they’re so basic. I am additionally massive on meals. You consider the issues that everyone wants, proper? The necessities: meals, shelter, safety. I am unable to sew a shirt, I can’t construct a home, however I could make dinner, and I make dinner most nights. 

What’s it like elevating kids in NYC, what’s the largest problem? What’s the largest pleasure? 

Vlad: What’s most superb about elevating a toddler in New York Metropolis is getting access to so many cultural establishments and landmarks. Within the 15 months that Céline has been with us, she’s already been to Carnegie Corridor, she has gotten to know each inch of the northern finish of Central Park from the duck pond to the Loch, to North Hill. She has been to the Museum of Pure Historical past and the Guggenheim a number of instances. 

The New York Public Library is a weekly custom for us, particularly in the course of the winter for story instances and for ebook reads. That is simply within the span of her early toddlerhood. These are all inside strolling distance of our dwelling with out having to take care of a automotive seat with out having to take care of the automotive experience, we’re capable of entry all these unimaginable establishments usually at a second’s discover each time we wish. 

I solely count on that as she grows older, we’ll proceed to try this. I imply, she’s not the one one benefiting from it – visiting these locations remains to be extremely enriching for us too! 

The challenges are the identical that each New Yorker has: it’s noisy, your head is on a swivel watching out for bikers, scooters and folks appearing surprisingly. The subway is a ache if you’re loaded down with the stroller and the newborn bag and if she will get fussy – which is uncommon – that is a tough experience! After all, these are the issues that peculiar New Yorkers take care of day-after-day. however these are outweighed by all these great issues that make New York Metropolis a type of thrilling cities on the planet. 

Tony: The most important problem is conserving the child’s palms clear as a result of New York Metropolis is just like the dirtiest metropolis within the historical past of cities. I imply, this makes historical Rome look like a clear manicured backyard. Earlier than you understand it, everybody’s acquired soot on their face. It seems to be like everybody’s a chimney sweep by the top of the day. That is the hardest half. 

However the perfect half is the unimaginable power and number of New York. It is a strolling training in all of the alternative ways you could be a individual on the planet. 

Nate: The hardest half is us as a household, not being near our prolonged household on the West Coast. The most important pleasure — it’s only one massive playground, New York, New Jersey, the encompassing states. You’ll be able to hop in a automotive, decide a path and simply go and you will find one thing lovely, and I am not saying it isn’t like that all over the place else, but it surely’s simply distinctive. 

And New York is a personality inside itself and there is so many layers like an onion. You simply maintain peeling and peeling and you will find some lovely gems. That is one of many largest joys of dwelling and elevating a household out right here. 

When your kids go to you on set, what’s a traditional day like for them? Have they bonded together with your colleagues? 

Nate: Yeah, they have been to only about each present that I am on. They’ve visited me in LA once I was working for the NFL Community, on the Additional set, the NFL right this moment set and naturally, CBS Mornings. 

Gayle, Tony and Vlad have been to my home. I threw an enormous Halloween occasion, so everybody, nearly everybody I invited right here at CBS got here and had fun and my household was there as effectively. We’re one massive joyful household outdoors of the one which I’ve.

Gayle, Tony and Vlad have embraced me, and it looks as if day-after-day, we’re simply getting nearer and nearer and actually engaged on that chemistry that makes us so relatable to the viewer. It is one of many largest compliments that I get is that, not solely will we take pleasure in what we do, which that’s the reality, we additionally take pleasure in one another’s firm and you may see that, and it is a blessing to like what you do for a dwelling and who you do it with.

Vlad: Céline was celebrated the second she was welcomed into our lives by Gayle, Nate, Tony, Shawna and our CBS Mornings workers. When she was about seven-months-old, she got here to the set and met my co-hosts and your entire CBS Mornings workers and so they have been so excited to lastly meet her. 

I believe her favourite half was assembly the K9 safety Labrador! 

Tony: We’re a really child pleasant present. All people will get to sit down within the chairs, pose with the anchors. Typically they’ll current a narrative to the digital camera, do some stroll and speak — all the basics of broadcast tv. We strive ’em out younger, and in the event that they present an inherent ability, we ship them to TV camp after which they should do TV for the remainder of their life. 

What did you be taught from your individual father that you’ve got taught your kids? 

Nate: Learn how to present up day-after-day for your loved ones, get up, go to work, assist, present garments on their again, meals on the desk, and a roof over their heads and carry that not as a burden, however as a way of delight that this household selected you to do all these issues and extra. He did that day-after-day. I grew up in a family with 4 boys, we drove my mother and pop loopy, however my dad was there, working us from fitness center to fitness center, subject to subject, sport to sport. 

I bear in mind wanting up within the stands and seeing him so, for me, I needed to be that for my children. Whether or not it was a recital, a play, a sport, an occasion, I needed to be there as a illustration, a degree of reference that they’ll take a look at and say, ‘My dad’s right here, and he at all times has my again.’ 

Tony: My father was not a classically good father, however he was an imaginative individual. He imagined a selected type of freewheeling, enjoyable loving, law-breaking life for himself. And it wasn’t an instance of the type of life I’d lead, but it surely was an instance of with the ability to actualize the factor that you just dream of. His dream just isn’t one, I’d say, you need to emulate, however he did accomplish his dream. 

I did take that inspiration from him. 

Nate, you have been an NFL participant, and your sons are each now gamers at College of Nevada, your alma mater! How does it really feel to know your kids needed to proceed a legacy you started? 

Nate: It feels nice – and my spouse ran observe there. She was a much bigger famous person than me. She’s an indoor hurdle champion for the Nevada Wolf Pack. Her little brother performed basketball there, Joey Shaw, my little brother performed basketball there, LenDale Burleson. 

It is changing into a household affair. Right here we’re, 20 plus years later, they supplied my two sons scholarships, and it is nice to have them put on the identical Jersey that I wore and create a legacy of their very own. It is a fantastic factor.

I give them recommendation, but it surely’s extra about [how to create] your individual lane and utilizing the NFL because the car to get to the place you wish to go. The NFL is the motivation, proper? However use soccer as a car to launch different features of your life. The aim might be to play 10 years within the NFL and make 100 million {dollars}, however there must be a bigger aim as a result of as soon as you may’t bounce as excessive, run as quick and do the issues that you just do on the soccer subject, actual life will start. 

That is if you actually have to return to grips that enjoying sports activities, regardless that vital, is a really small, small piece of your grownup life. 

How has fatherhood modified you? 

Nate: Fatherhood has motivated me tremendously. I do know I would not be as profitable as I’m now if I did not have the household that I’ve. 

I’d be far more measured in my strategy. I would not have these lofty targets. I wouldn’t be pushing myself the best way that I do, and dealing the roles that I work, however I do it as a result of I do know my children are watching and seeing their father set an instance of what laborious work can do for you.

I wish to present a life for them that’s memorable with experiences, exposing them to totally different walks of life, totally different professions, make them extra worldly, and so they have given me the motivation that I must attempt for greatness. 

Tony: Fatherhood connects you to deep time. Fatherhood connects you to all that got here earlier than and all that shall be sooner or later. And consequently, you turn into invested within the move of your time in a deeper manner. 

It creates that means within the absence of it. For me, with out it, I’d really feel adrift. 

Vlad: I’ve realized one thing that each one dads and mothers have realized. It may well’t be taught. You’ll be able to’t put together for it as a result of the one approach to know it’s to really feel it. To expertise it, to dwell it. The sensation {that a} coronary heart’s capability for love is infinite. Limitless, with out finish. Dads know what which means. And now so do I.