Sunday Newscape Magazine

On Father’s Day I received an early morning surprise…

“Thank you for taking care of me. I like your cakes. I love it when you play games with me and the jobs you do with me. You make me feel better when I’m sick. You read me a story at bed time and in the morning and you snuggle with me. I love when you play outside with me. I love you.”

That beautiful piece of writing was from my seven year old. I can honestly say; it was one of the best gifts I’ve ever received.  No other card or present could have made me feel as special as she did with that little scribbled note. It made me realize I was creating an impact on my child’s life. Most important, it made me feel proud.

Even though Father’s Day has passed I hope the fathers out there took a good look at the writings their children gave them. There is nothing more satisfying then a detailed loving note from the ones you care about most.

Perhaps I am being a little sappy to some, but I take fatherhood seriously. The Latin word for husband is “house-band.” In other words, the father is the elastic band that helps keep the family together. Without that “house-band” the family breaks apart.

My theory on this is mothers should be included in this equation. They play as much a part as fathers do, but statistics don’t lie. I won’t go into specifics, but I guarantee you know someone who was raised without a father. Anyone who has experienced a divorce during their childhood knows this and the trauma never really goes away.

My simple wish is for dads to understand how important they are. If your children don’t show love you need to teach them how. Children are not born with this act of expression. Don’t be afraid to show your love and watch the little things that mean the most come out in ways you would never expected

©Jerry Maldonado-2009 all rights reserved   This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it