It is said that anyone can be a father; being a dad is another story altogether.

The job, from the 3 a.m. feedings that come with a newborn to the steadfast patience often required for the teenage years, is never simple.

But don't take our word for it.

To honor fathers on Father's Day, the North County Times interviewed four fathers at different stages of fatherhood to hear their takes on fatherhood: the good times, the big surprises, the challenges and the pride that comes from a baby's coo, a cartwheel on the grass, or a home run on the baseball field.

Here's what they had to say:

Newly minted dad

Matt Delaney, 23, is a new dad in Carlsbad. His wife, Kindra, gave birth to Madison on April 15. "Tax day," he joked. A former Marine, Delaney worked in sales for a while and, for now, stays home to take care of baby. Like most new fathers, he admitted he's short on experience and advice for other dads, and hasn't been getting much sleep at night.

Biggest lifestyle change: "Probably just the fact that now you have to change and feed someone all the time. And the screaming, that's definitely a change."

Hardest part of fatherhood: "Trying not to get frustrated. It's pretty frustrating when you have no idea why she's screaming. "

Best part: "Watching her smile."

Biggest surprise: "The first two weeks, when we went back and forth to the hospital and didn't know whether she was going to make it or not. She had a laundry list of health problems, heart murmur, lung infection. She got through it all."

Is being a father all you thought it would be? "I don't think it's all sunk in yet. I'm still trying to get used to the entire thing."

What did your dad teach you about being a dad? "There's a lot of things, too many things … Keep your head up all the time."

Now that you are a dad, has your perception of your own father changed? "I see what he had to go through. He had two kids; I only have one."

What has your child taught you? "Patience. Definitely patience, and the value of sleep."

Outnumbered

Paul Baldwin, 36, lives in Fallbrook with his wife, Gina, and daughters Riley, 1, Chelsea, 3, and Hailey, 5. Baldwin works as a K-5 adapted physical education teacher in Escondido and is head coach of the Escondido High School varsity boys' basketball team and girls' junior varsity golf team. In his female-dominated home, Baldwin admits he's not running the show. He's home when his daughters are sick, he takes them to gymnastics or ballet, and can be spotted at a neighborhood park on most days helping his girls with their cartwheels.

Biggest lifestyle change: "I'm not No. 1 anymore. My kids come first. It's tough juggling work and coaching, but I'm a father first."

Hardest part: "Managing time. Everything is about relationships. I want to be a good father, husband and coach. I don't sleep very much. (Laugh). Trying to balance your time and trying to be good at everything you do. I don't know whether I've had many warm meals in the last year."

Best part: "Looking at all of the milestones and the development. The way life is these days, we're always in a hurry, but we're also trying to sit back and enjoy every stage. The 1-year old is starting to walk. My 5-year-old is reading well."

Worst part: "Eating cold meals (laugh) and not getting much sleep. There's definitely a lot more positives than negatives. I haven't hit the teen years yet (laugh). That'll be challenging."

Biggest surprise: "The true commitment to it. You think you understand what it means to be a father, (but) you never know until you go through it. It's exciting. I couldn't imagine not being a father. My life would be boring."

What did your dad teach you about being a dad? "Being able to communicate and having it so that they (my children) can come and talk to me about anything, even if it's something I don't want to hear."

Now that you are a dad, has your perception of your own father changed? "Yeah -- there's more respect because you see what they went through."

What has your child taught you? "Patience. (Laugh) That it's not all about me. Balance and patience."

What advice do you have for other dads at this stage of parenting? "It's all about relationships, not the car you drive, how much money you make, what kind of house you live in. You have to balance everything; everything is going to be how your relationships are. Make a commitment to your kids."

Singlehanded

Seth Worden, 44, is a single father in Oceanside with 8-year-old Ariel and 17-year-old Joshua Walter. He works as a facilities maintenance supervisor for the North County Transit District. He's the only man on the Reynolds Elementary PTO, where he helps organize school events and fundraisers. He calls fatherhood "the one thing I am really passionate about in my life."

Biggest lifestyle change: "Realizing that it's not all about me. The joy of being able to dedicate my life to my kids has been the biggest change."

Hardest part of fatherhood: "Making ends meet -- the cost of living increases, the price of fuel, managing a mortgage by myself."

Best part: "Being loving to my kids and being loving to these children I am responsible for. The return on that investment is really large, and it makes me feel great."

Biggest surprise: "How far I've come in so short a time. I've grown leaps and bounds since I came to the conclusion that you have to change your attitude about your ability as a parent and realize you only get one shot at it. "

Is being a father all you thought it would be? "Much, much more wonderful."

What do you think your dad taught you about being a dad? "That self-sacrifice and giving is everything. We are all here to serve."

Now that you are a dad, has your perception of your own father changed? "Definitely. I can remember when I was 17 and knew everything (laugh). I feel his pain that he must have felt when I was 17."

What has your child taught you? "To never give up on them. Just a simple look is enough to tell you that they are depending on you. No matter how difficult it gets, you cannot give up on them."

What advice do you have for other single dads? "Make up your mind that it is a challenge and not an excuse to complain. You have a purpose to achieve -- being a wonderful father. Your kids do not have to suffer because your situation changes."

Teamwork with teens

Dan Zapata, 47, lives in San Marcos with his wife, Peggy, and teenage sons Daniel James "DJ," 15, and Tony, 13. Zapata, a sales representative for a heating and air conditioning company, spends much of his free time coaching baseball and basketball. These days he's proud that Tony's youth baseball team -- the San Marcos Youth Pony "Giants" -- has made it to the playoffs. He calls his time coaching on the field the most memorable when it comes to fatherhood.

Biggest lifestyle change: "Ultimate responsibility. I have a purpose. I have a family. I am not just responsible for myself."

Hardest part: "Not having enough time to do everything I want to do with the family -- like vacations."

Best part: "The times on the baseball fields with the boys. That's my quality time, father and sons."

Biggest surprise: "How expensive kids are. (Laugh) I could go on and on about that."

Is being a father all you thought it would be? "Yes, and much more. The unconditional love is there."

What do you think your dad taught you about being a dad? "Spending quality time. My dad coached baseball, too, and those were some of the best times between us."

Now that you are a dad, has your perception of your own father changed? "I see how much work it was and the sacrifices he made."

What has your child taught you? "Patience! (Laugh) Patience and pacing: Do things in increments."

What advice do you have for other dads at this stage of parenting? "Spend as much time as you can with them, because they grow up quick. They grow up right before your eyes. My son (DJ) is a giant now. He's 6 foot 3 and 175 pounds."