NBA legend Dwyane Wade says he loves doing 'all the princess things' with his little daughter

Dads often have a soft spot for their daughters and always hold them as delicate yet strong princesses throughout their lives. While men are otherwise tough and macho for the most part, having a baby girl brings a sense of softness to them. TODAY shared an interview with athlete and dad Dwyane Wade, who is proudly sharing the “princess mode” stories he has lived out with his daughter. The NBA star is dad to Zaya, Zaire, Xavier and Kaavia Wade, along with full custody of his nephew Daveheon Morris. Wade’s youngest, Kaavia, who is 5 years old, has her fair share of time with her dad and he goes all out

Wade has been advocating authentic and raw parenthood. He has stressed that being present matters more than all the parenting methods. “When you don’t know nothing, just love. You’ve got to feel love. You’ve got to feel support. And then we can work everything else out,” the dad said. Contradictory to what many dads may feel, Wade finds joy in going princess mode for his daughter. "We dance. We sing. We play Barbie all the time. We do all the princess things. I actually let her put makeup on me, whatever she wants to do. I’m that dad,” Wade delightfully explained. He shared that these mundane or bizarre experiences are what add to bonding and core memories.

Wade shared that he became a dad to Zaya at a young age and didn’t know much about parenting responsibilities. He bonded with Zaya in the later years of his parenthood, but for Kaavia, who came into his life much later, he has been able to bond even better. "In terms of a father-daughter connection, I got that later with Zaya. But with Kaavia, it’s been from birth, and she's so different from Zaya. It's not even close,” he added. Whether it’s attending and showing up for his kids' plays and performances or even cooking or dancing it out, Wade says he knows the father he wants to be.

The athlete added that being a role model for parents encourages him to share all his experiences and lead by example. "I try to speak loud and proud because I have the platform and microphone to do it," he said. For Wade, his family comes before everything else and what matters more than the haters and the slander is that the family gets through everything together and bonds in the process. “I have a family who are fighters, fighting for the life that we want to have, but also fighting for others that don't have the voice that we have,” he added.

Wade’s Instagram reflects the various looks he puts on as a dad to fulfill his duties with his kids. In a recent Instagram video, Wade is seen dancing away with little Kaavia in the most random and fun way possible. In another post, Wade shared pictures of his daughter’s birthday with a royal-themed costume. “Happy birthday princess,” he wrote. The dad has also proudly shared several moments and memories, pointing out that going all out for one’s family is not only the best but the most fulfilling thing to do!