Fatherless Father's Days

Last night, I took my step-daughter shopping so that she could buy her dad a Father's Day gift. I was standing off to the side while she sifted through the cards. As I stood there, I was looking at the FD cards and began thinking thoughts that haven't crossed my mind in a very long time.

• I wonder what it feels like to have a father?
• How do you feel toward a father?
• Do you feel the same feelings that you do for your mother?
• I wonder what it feels like to call someone "Daddy"

The man who undeservedly received the title of being my "father" passed away a few months ago. While this may sound cruel, it was a non-event for me. My father has never been in my life. So, during a time when many women/girls would be devastated, sad, maybe even lost, I continued with my normal routine and gave his passing a moments worth of thought.

There was a time in my life when I longed to have a man to call daddy. I longed for that male figure who would care about my well-being, teach me how to act in front of men, take me on daddy/daughter dates but those longings are "long" past. I don't dwell on them any more. I guess I finally just accepted what was fact, reality, fate. However, this does not stop me from being passionate about the fact that every child deserves a father. I still have sadness for all of the fatherless children in the world. A mother and a father play 2 very important roles in a child's life. God created balance. He gave women and men different characteristics for a reason. For a girl, a father provides strength, protection and his role is to teach her how to respect herself and how to interact with the opposite sex. For a boy, a father still provides strength and protection but he is also the teacher, the role model, showing the boy how to become a man.

It's been a dream of mine for quite some time to do a documentary on fathers & fatherhood. I have this fantasy that teaching men the importance of their role in their child's life will somehow fill that fatherless void in my heart. Realistically speaking, I just thinks it's time. It's time for awareness. It's time for men to understand. It's time for our children to have their fathers. Our country would be in better shape for it.

I hear about our President taking time out of his incredibly intense schedule to attend his children's school functions, take them for ice cream, play a game... This is the type of role modeling and example that we need in America. I am thankful for this President!

With this said, I do wish all of the men in this country who participate in their children's life a very Happy Father's Day! To those that don't.... isn't it about time??