Importance Of A Father

Dear Kids,

The importance of father's and men in general is greatly overlooked. There has been so much emphasis on women's rights and the feminist movement that as a society haven't been talking enough about men and why they are also SO imperative to our lives and world.

Well, with Father's Day coming up I want to make sure and set the record straight for our family - for YOU. Your father is irreplaceable. The importance of a strong, good, loving, protective, encouraging and hard working man is so overlooked.

Your dad knows this better than anyone - his father was not part an active part of his life since he was just past toddlerhood, and then committed suicide when your dad was only 17 years old. The pain he went through with his sisters and mom is indescribable. They just needed a dad! He is sometimes overwhelmed by how to even be a dad, how to be a patriarch and lead his family in the right way.

I keep telling him, "Just loving your kids, loving me and doing your best is the most important thing... taking time to cuddle, to tease, to teach, to wrestle, to laugh, to work, all of it means you are a wonderful dad."

Our world needs more good men and fathers. Just read some of these statistics:

• 63% of teen suicides come from fatherless homes.... FIVE times the national average. (US dept of health)
• 90% of all runaways and homeless children are from fatherless homes...32 times the national average (Justice and behavior)
• 85% of children with behavior problems come from fatherless homes...20 times the national average. (Center for Disease)
• 80% of rapists with anger problems come from fatherless homes...14 times the national average. (Justice and Behavior)
• 85% of youth in prison come from fatherless homes... 20 times the national average (US Dept of Justice)

There are even MORE numbers and statistics I can find, but I think you get the point. If we keep demeaning the importance of good men and fathers in our lives... our society will continue to degrade. I feel for mom's who have to raise their children alone. Your Nana did that - I can't even begin to comprehend the exhaustion and stress of a single mom. Hats off to all single mom's.

BUT WHERE ARE THE DADS?? And what value are we putting on fathers with the masculinity, strength, power and protection they give? There is an epidemic of inactive fathers, and our society needs to stop overlooking the importance of them.

I want to be the first to tell you - Your dad is irreplaceable. Just like my dad was irreplaceable. I had not idea how rare I was raised and by having an active dad in my life taught me how to love men and respect them. Most of all I am eternally grateful for the Father of us all and for His Son who gave his life for us.

I love your dad! Father's Day is a celebration of our men, and most especially our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

I love you,

Your Mom