This is so refreshing.
A politican who isn’t afraid to let us into his own flawed, less-than-perfect background, but instead invites us in to stay awhile. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama (you have no idea how much I enjoyed typing that) spoke yesterday at a Chicago church about the need for black fathers (parents in general) to step up to the plate of responsibility and nuture our youth.
“They have abandoned their responsibilities, acting like boys instead of men. And the foundations of our families are weaker because of it,” Obama said. “I resolved many years ago that it was my obligation to break the cycle – that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father to my girls.”
Obama, whose father left him and his mother when he was 2 and made fleeting appearances in his life thereafter, said he knows firsthand the impact that fatherlessness can have, and how fortunate he was to have the love and support of his grandparents. View the video below.
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=Hj1hCDjwG6M]
I don’t know firsthand the pain that absent fathers can bring. I was raised by both parents. While I have kids, I am married to their father and he comes home every night without fail. But I do realize that all the young mommies I know are single. Every. last. one. Why is that?
For Mother’s Day, my daughter’s daycare center made these elaborate presents for all the moms. My husband looked at it and wondered aloud, “I wonder if they’ll do anything for Father’s Day.”
Well, now we know. The center did in fact do something for Father’s Day, but it wasn’t as fancy. I thought to myself, “That’s probably because there aren’t as many dads to celebrate.”
How horrible is that? Dads are EXTREMELY important, and I wish more of them realized the vital role they play in their child’s lives.
What do you all think? How can we turn the tide of absent fathers? Does it start with the men or the women?
For parenting blog
