No doubt about it: Fatherhood is a lot of work. And we all know how tough it can be to be a New Yorker. The two combined? Well, add it up.

We checked in with a handful of local dads to get their take on the most important job of all: raising happy and healthy kids.

And as tough as that job can be, they all agree on one thing: It’s worth it!

JOHN LINNELL, 44

Musician (he’s one-half of They Might Be Giants) and father of Henry, 4½

The best part: Just hanging out with my son.

How fatherhood changed him: I get way less sleep. I do this thing now, which I remember my dad and people in his generation doing when I was a kid – all the men used to fall asleep after dinner time. They’d just like pass out in their chairs. And now I’m pretty much joining the ranks.

What he does that drives his son crazy: I tell him he can’t do something. He still can’t get over being thwarted.

What happens when Henry doesn’t listen: Sometimes I get mad and sometimes he gets comically mad, which sort of diffuses the whole anger in a way. He’s learned about being mad from us. He’ll storm off in the other room and say things like, “That is it!”

Most embarrassing moment: When he was really little, I put the wrong shoe on the wrong foot in front of a whole bunch of other parents. And it was exactly the kind of thing confirming their belief that, as I imagined, I was not fit to be a father.

Advice: I’ve found that bribery will actually work – but you pay for it in the long run.

ART SPIEGELMAN, 55

Artist, writer and father of Nadja, 16, and Dashiell, 11½

The best part: Since I tend to be very self-involved, or self-absorbed, having kids keeps me from going off the deep end.

How fatherhood changed his life: How didn’t it? All of a sudden, what free time I used to think I had has been put in the ice box waiting for the mythical moment of retirement.

What he does that drives his kids crazy: I smoke.

How he gets his kids to listen: I’ve tried everything. Usually it’s just a matter of waiting it out until one of the several methods works – sometimes whining, sometimes being a belligerent bully and sometimes reasoning. Somewhere between the three, we usually get there.

Most embarrassing moment: During the war in Iraq, we were riding on the West Side Highway bike path and I started bellowing out the ’60s Barry McGuire song “Eve of Destruction.” Dash began pedaling as fast as he could to get away from me.

Best gift ever: Nadja wrote me a long letter explaining why she didn’t have time to make me a gift. It was so sweet, the letter was so wonderful, it was about as good a gift as I could have gotten.

MARK LINN-BAKER, 48

Actor (“Frog and Toad”) and father of Ruby Beatrice, 15½ months

The best part: You look at that child and there’s just such openness. You can see right to the child’s heart and right to your own. Being a parent is like trying to describe sex to somebody – unless you’ve done it, you really don’t know what it’s like.

How fatherhood changed him: First of all, it just ate up my day. I had my child late in life and I had a very full professional life and I thought I had done things that were truly demanding and exhausting. But nothing compares to having a child. There is nothing more exhausting or time consuming, but at the same time, so joyful.

What annoys Ruby: Affection. I just shower her with affection, but she really doesn’t have time for it. She seems to have things to do.

What happens when she doesn’t listen: She sets the agenda. The question is, what does she do when I don’t listen to her. She just gets a little more demanding.

Advice: There’s no preparation. You’ve just gotta wing it. I think the only advantage I had from being older is that I knew I did not have a clue.

RUSSELL SIMMONS, 45

Hip-hop mogul, activist and father of Ming Lee, 3, and Aoki Lee, 10 months

The best part: Waking up and seeing them. I come in sometimes and they’re asleep, or sometimes I get up before them – and I miss them.

How it changed him: I realized that there’s somebody more important than me. Sometimes I race home just to see them. I love my wife – but I don’t race home to see her.

What he does that drives them crazy: When I get to airports, I stop and talk to kids. My oldest daughter notices that. I was at a recent event with Bruce Willis for these foster kids, and we signed every single autograph. Ming Lee was waiting there and I explained to her that these kids aren’t lucky enough to have parents. She handled it pretty well.

Most embarrassing moment: My wife has never let me change a diaper. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. Once with Ming Lee, I had to get a waitress in this restaurant to help change a diaper and everybody was laughing at me.

What happens when they don’t listen: I don’t know what to do. My wife disciplines them. I’m not good at that. My wife’s the boss, anyway.

Advice: Enjoy it while you can – it goes quick. It seems Ming Lee’s a foot taller every time I see her.