Oh My Papa!
Father’s Day has never had any significant meaning to me until I started having kids. This day would pass by and I would say to myself that it’s one gift less that I have to buy! My mother raised three kids practically on her own, so she was both mother and father and though I could never repay her for all she has done for me and the tough love she showed me, there continues to be this void in my life. I realise now from my own perspective, that children really do need that significant person to help mould their young minds beyond the capacities of a mother (depending if the father is a good role model). There are many bad fathers out there, but there are many good ones as well. In Trinidad and Tobago on average, about 14.4% of all households are single parents struggling because their children’s good for nothing fathers bailed, leaving them with a life long burden.
I know that in our globalised society and with women’s liberation, many females feel that they are quite capable to raise kids on their own and do not need a man’s help. (kudos to those that do!).This may be true in some cases, but the child raised in such a situation would have lost the benefits of being reared to be a balanced individual. Many of the decisions and choices I’ve made in the past, could have be swayed in a different direction, if I had the guidance of my father. I wished that I could have had my father carry me to my graduation or walk me down the aisle when I got married or see his grand children blossom…
I wouldn’t want my kids to feel the way I still feel, so that is why I always try to treasure their father. Thank you to Ms Sonora Dodd who felt the need to acknowledge her father’s contribution to her life and by extension allowed the commemoration to thank the person who is often overlooked by many.
Happy Father’s Day to all fathers out there!
24/10/09
It was brought to my attention today by my mother, that the man that I briefly knew as my father had passed way yesterday to lung cancer. My condolences to his family and friends…
I agree with you, children do need a father. I was fortunate to have one who was a great role model. Unfortunately I married a man that was not, so I did what I thought was best, took my kids, divorced him and moved away. I made sure that my kids still had positive male role models in their life (family and friends). They are 16 and 19 years old and have turned out all right. I know that there are times where they wished they had a loving dad, but that was not meant to be. So I hope that they will look hard at their prospective partners in the future and make sure that it’s someone that is fit to be a parent.
Happy belated fathers day to all the good fathers on the planet.:)