Talaro’s Commitment to God and Family

Bernard Talaro, a 29-year-old father of two, is setting an example for all young fathers in the Cook Islands: commitment and faith are the keys to building a successful family.

Tararo is a former police enforcement officer who now runs his own business, Rarotonga Lawn Care, while taking care of his children.

Talaro, who had his first child at age 25, was faithful not only to his wife and children but also to God, who he said was the foundation of his upbringing.

He was brought up in the name of the Lord in a Christian country like the Cook Islands.

Talaro had a wonderful relationship with his father, and today he is devoting that kindness to his small family, raising his children with his wife, Melody Talaro.

“It’s been great, it’s been a really great experience and it’s actually helped me become a better person,” Talaro said of his journey to fatherhood. “It’s been a journey, but I can’t see anything better right now than being a dad.”

“One of the challenges is learning as you get older, learning new things, having to take care of other people, while also being a good dad and setting a good example… I can only do my best to set the example for my kids and learn as I go.

“I’m still learning, but that’s good.”

Sharing about his relationship with his father, Talaro said he is grateful for everything his father taught him while he was growing up.

Since childhood, he has shouldered the responsibility of being the eldest son of seven siblings, and he still fulfills this responsibility while taking care of his children and wife.

“I have a great relationship with my dad, and he taught me how to cook, hunt, and work, which is really good,” Talaro shared.

“One thing I really respect about my dad is that he raised me in the way the Lord wanted me to be raised, and that played a huge role in my life, and I raise my children that way as well.”

Tararo has a strong faith in God and believes that God is at the center of everything in the establishment and growth of any Cook Islands family.

He said God and his culture have made him the father he is today, and he wouldn’t have achieved it any other way.

One of the lessons he learned as a young father was to spend as much time as possible with his children before they grew up.

“Spending quality time with your children and being part of their world is one of the most important lessons. For us, we don’t have a TV at home because we don’t want screen time to dictate how we raise our family, as it does in many families,” explains Talaro.

“But for me, it’s more about being in the children’s world, being outside, in the garden, taking a walk. It’s about influencing the children, not letting the world influence the children.”

Talaro’s advice to fathers is to love God and trust Him throughout the process.