‘Superdad’ Ben nominated for Yorkshire award
HE’S been called ‘superdad’ and Ben Carpenter certainly lives up to that name at Christmas.
The 33-year-old single Huddersfield dad enjoys going the extra mile to ensure that the festive period is as fun and memorable as possible for his four adopted disabled children.
His preparations include placing talcum powder on the stairs so the children can spot Santa’s footprints. And he also makes sure the house decorations resemble, in his words, ‘Blackpool Illuminations.’
On Christmas Eve he tells the children festive stories, plays Christmas music and in the past he has left a mince pie and a glass of Baileys for Santa.
“This is my second Christmas with all four children (Jack, 10, sisters Ruby, seven, and Lily, five, and Joseph, two).
“I like to go the extra mile by trimming up with outdoor lights which look like the Blackpool Illuminations. On Christmas morning I’m like a big kid myself.
“I wake up and I shout ‘he’s been’ and I’m always the first to go downstairs and put the Christmas tree lights on.
“Watching the children’s faces whilst they open their presents always brings a tear to my eye.”
Ben doesn’t forget to tell the children about why we celebrate Christmas.
“I always like to teach them the true meaning of Christmas, about the birth of Jesus Christ.”
This year Ben has even more to celebrate as he č`ÕÌà Ë{] ViÃÃà 1`iÀ £nÃÉ"ÛiÀ Èxî >Lià ËÓ] >Àà , ° /ViÌà >Ài >Û>>Li vÀ Ì i /ViÌ V> ä£{n{ "vwVi] {n{£ÓÎ] i >Ì Ì>vV°VÉÌViÌÃ] À ÞÕ V> «>Þ Ì i `>Þ° has just been nominated for an award in the ‘inspirational individual’ category in the Yorkshire Choice Awards. The winner will be decided by a public vote.
Ben said he didn’t know who had made the nomination but he felt honoured.
“It’s amazing. I just can’t believe it. I means so much to me, but it’s also a tribute to other parents who have adopted children with additional needs.”
Ben said he remained immensely proud of his children and their own achievements.
“They have taken part in Christmas performances at their different schools. I was very proud seeing them perform. They all took part in their own way. What they did was out of this world.”
Ben has previously been named Adopter Champion of the Year in recognition of his adoption of four children since 2010.
His adoption journey began more than 10 years ago when he became one of the youngest gay men in Yorkshire to adopt a child, not to mention the first single man to apply in Kirklees.
It had taken him around three years to convince the authorities that he was serious about adopting and, more importantly, had the maturity and skills to be a good dad.
Ben is helped by his mum Rita, friends and support workers. When he’s not looking after the children – which is pretty much non-stop – Ben works to educate prospective adopters and sits on a local adoption panel.
To vote for Ben visit www.yorkshirechoiceawards. co.uk. Voting closes on March 16. ] xä - ,"č ] Ó £9 ] -1 č9 ÓÓ " /" , Óä£Ç] ] -* č9 -/č,/- č/ Ç°Îä* Single dad Ben Carpenter has adopted four children with special needs - Jack, 10, Ruby six, Lily, five and Joseph, two Ben Carpenter of Shepley with his four adopted children, from left, Jack, 10, Ruby, 7, Joseph, 2, and Lily, 5. Inset, our October front page story about Ben’s adoption journey