Hats off to parents
In honor of Father’s Day on June 15, 2014, my hat is off to all the fathers who have chosen to be actively involved in their children’s lives. One of the most endearing moments I see, when I’m in public, is parents interacting with their children. It always seems to me that the child or children are always happy and engaged when they are with their parents. My comment is not at all to say that children are not happy with their mothers, but rather to acknowledge that when fathers are involved in their children’s lives, children have the best of both worlds. First hand, I am blessed to have two parents who have done a great job helping me raise our two children; congratulations to both of you.
It is amazing that we should glorify parents. Reason why many parents do not actively participate in the lives of their children. Millions of fathers are absentee fathers, shying away from their responsibilities financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Therefore, parents who take responsibility are making a profound difference in the lives of our children. More and more parents are custodial parents and are the primary residential parents of their children. It is reported that more than 15% of fathers are custodial parents in the United States. It is also reported that more and more parents are staying at home to care for their children while the other spouse works. In fact, there are over a million parents who have chosen this path. I applaud men who embrace parenting and recognize that parenting is one of the most difficult responsibilities we face throughout our lives. However, our society has not 100% accepted that fathers raise their children, instead thinking that mothers should be the main parents. This thought process has not stopped fathers from seeking custody and breaking the trail so that more fathers will follow suit. While not everyone has embraced and supported this concept, parents are well on their way to breaking down the barriers they once endured.
Dennis has had custody of their son, now 13, for ten years. Even though Dennis works full time and his ex-wife lives out of state, being the primary parent has been one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences he’s ever had. “As a resident dad, I never realized what a single mom, for example, goes through on a daily basis. From the moment we wake up until we go to bed, I constantly think about my role and responsibility as a parent.” When asked why he chose to be a single father, Dennis said he wanted to be a constant positive influence in his son’s life. It was amazing talking to Dennis and seeing the love, adoration and joy he emanated from talking about his son and being a single dad.
Dennis is just one example of the many fathers who play the most important role in our children’s lives. The trend is growing rapidly when men are becoming the main father. Courtyards no longer disapprove of the male gender as parents; but considering the best interest of our most precious investments, our children.
On Father’s Day, I salute all fathers for making a difference.