If your schedule is anything like mine, your daily schedule can be very busy with work, raising your children, sports and not to mention your “Honey Do List.” Do not take your responsibility as a Dad lightly. I have been known to put my job first over the immediate needs of my family more times than not. I strongly believe one role of a Dad is to provide the essential needs for your family. One way to do this is by working for a paycheck to provide the essentials for my family. These essentials consist of food, shelter, setting the moral standards and being the spiritual leader. Granted, I have MANY faults in all these areas. Do not let your busy schedule get in the way of all your roles of being a Dad.
I have thought a long time whether or not to write this post, but it is too important not to drive home this point. Regardless of where you stand in politics you will understand the point of this post.
Have you heard of the proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child?” After having children I strongly agree with this old proverb. My oldest son is about to turn 12 years old. I can coach him and mentor him, although he listens to what I tell him, it is not until someone other than my wife or myself tell him something before he begins to listen. What I fear the most as a Dad is that someone we trust in an authority role, such as a teacher, will introduce a moral or a social issue that falls under one of my primary responsibilities as a Dad. Do not misunderstand me, I want both of my boys to be exposed to all the issues, but I want them both to be exposed to both sides of any issue. I strongly believe that given a balance of pros and cons of both issues they will both be able to make the best decisions possible given their age.
Below is a link to the audio that a high school student taped from North Carolina that provoked a teacher to react to his question, because he knew the bias of his teacher towards President Obama and Mitt Romney. I do not know if his intent was noble or just being a high school student, that is for you to decide.
Make sure that you are the moral beacon for your family. As your son or daughter grows into a young adult, make sure they understand what your principles consist of, both moral and spiritual. They do not have to agree exactly like you do, but you need to make sure that you teach them the principles you stand for. It has taken 40 years to develop the principle values that I currently hold. If you are anything like me, the values you hold important today are different than what you held 10, 15, or 20 years ago.
