FATHER'S DAY

Many people that know me know that I am always thinking about life's meanings. They also know that I think alot about why we do and say what we do. However I guess the biggest thing with me is human interactions. I rant and rave about our systems and how they affect the way that we think and the things that we do. I spend my free time reading and writing about our society and how we can improve our selves and our world. Today though I want to talk about the thing that makes all the other stuff come out in me. Father's day is coming.This is the day that highlights so much that is going on in our society and has for years.
When I was growing up my father worked nights at a factory, not really sure what he did something in sanitation. My father is from the Bahamas, I really don't know too much about his life as a youngster. I know a lot about my mother from growing up. I never really knew my father. He was there all the time. Most times it was too much for me because then it was harder to be a kid and mess up. There was always someone looking over my shoulder and making sure that I did the right thing. My father taught me to fish and to swim. He taught me how to work(and I hated him for it). He taught me how to take responsibility for my actions. I did not see any of this as a child and when Father's day came around I gave him gifts that reflected my lack of appreciation for him. My mother got all that I could afford to give, my father got what I could find lying around. This is a pattern that we joke about, but it is the truth in our society. We give all we can to mothers because they work so hard for their children, but fathers who work just as hard get what is leftover. And we take it and are happy with it.
When my step-son had his Senior night for soccer he called out his mom and his little brother. I sat on the sidelines and watched this celebration of his achievement. At his graduation party from high school, he had family members from everywhere toasting his achievements. Each giving credit to his mom and themselves for all that was done. I sat by and watched this spectacle. There was a bit of bitterness that people that had not been to a single soccer/baseball game or play were taking credit for his hard work. I took the occasional scrap of hey the little bit that you may have played in raising this kid was a good job, and I was happy to get it because this was not my day it was his.
My birthday I received a shiny new bike, after I had made my father a really bad handmade Father's day card. I was sure that was an equal trade. Most fathers have learned to take what is given and to place the meaning over the gift. That is what we should all do in life. We swallow our pride and let others take credit for our kids. Our society now says fathers are not needed. That mothers can do it all. I love mothers, they play a vital role in raising a child, but they cant do it alone. There is so much to be done in raising healthy children of character that no person can do it alone. We may say that money is the answer. But money is not the solution, it may be a big part of the problem, but I wont go into that here.
I can go into rants about child support/visitation. I can go for hours about mothers allowing fathers to father their children. I can rant about absent fathers and that they should be locked up if they choose to be absent. There are issues that I go through each day that make it challenging for me to be unbiased on some issues related to Fatherhood in America today. But that is not why I am writing. If you have the chance get to know your Dad. Try to see him as a person and not as a bank, or school. Try to find out what he is all about. I have wanted to get all the young men in my family together to clean and repair my dad's barn. My life has distracted me from that, and also the thought that he understands that I am busy with my kids. But that is the problem. My father made me and I have to show him in real ways that I am so glad he did. I can buy a tie that he may never wear or a shirt or some socks. Tools he needs(they are buried in the barn that needs to be cleaned and organized). I will come up with something that he would like. How do I know this, I am a father and anything my kids give me, even if it is just a hug is all that I need. Please all remember your Daddy and give him all that he needs.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE DADDIES OUT THERE!!!!!!!!!