Life of Dad is Everything I Needed Decades Ago

Life of Dad has restored in me the hope that someone indeed cares about fatherhood, that I am not alone.

Since the moment I became a dad in 1981, it became the most important part of my life. Now 35 years later as the father of three and grandfather of two, I can say that fatherhood is an ongoing, lifetime, even eternal journey. As a dad whose experience as a primary caretaker is vast, I can also tell you there is so much to know at any and all stages of your children’s lives. And no matter how well prepared you are, something always seems to come out of left field when you least expect it. So it is essential that you be there for your family! You must sacrifice much of your personal desires for their well-being. This I have done and it has been both most difficult and yet most rewarding.

Has it made a difference in my children’s lives? Yes it has, especially because when they were just 12, 7 and 2, their mother left us, causing emotional wounds and scars for all of us that linger and fester to this day. Indeed my two younger children, now 30 and 25 still live with me, each suffering in their own way. But I am determined, as that is the job I took on when they were born, that each of them will overcome their difficulties to make it in this mean world. I will not give up.

Recently, I made the acquaintance of a 43 year old father of an eleven month old boy. This dad was struggling in every way because his wife had recently left him and their baby. I told him of my family’s experience and assured him that he could make it. I also told him about Richard Johnson, the very impressive 21 year old man who is raising his baby daughter Persephone on his own. In fact, it was from his story that I became aware of Life of Dad, of which I also informed the 43 year old dad. He, in turn, was so deeply moved by our conversation and the awareness that he was not alone in his suffering that each time he has seen me since he thanks me again and again for giving him hope.

Now here is the eternal aspect of fatherhood. My own dad passed away twenty years ago and I miss him terribly. But I know he is with me because each day when I awake I sit on the side of my bed and place my hand upon his Sunday prayer book that has sat on my night table since I got it. It had been so well used by him that his palm mark is permanently imprinted on its cover. So with my hand on his, each day I ask him the same thing. “Help me out today, will ya Dad?” I believe, no I know, he will still do everything he can to do so, as that was the job he took on when I was born.

Thank you Life of Dad for being there for all of us.
Edward A. Shaw is the author of the novel The Feather Father. http://www.shawwritings.com/ed-shawwritings.html