Heart & Soul of a Single Dad

(The boy has become a man) One day the fatherless son will become a man and potentially a father.  If the current trends continue he won’t have a frame of reference as to how a father is supposed to conduct himself in the home.  In addition to that most outside influences will not be reaffirming to him if he watches movies, looks at television, watches sports, or listens to most music the influence of Dad is seldom highlighted and if so it’s pain because of his absence.. This is a dilemma that deserves our collective attention.  For decades the father has represented security, provision, guidance, and quiet strength.  Without this vital part of the equation, the family is at high risk for collapse.  The mother must do what is necessary to raise the family on her own and keep her best foot forward while inwardly holding resentment towards a man that left her.  While mom is dealing with the priorities of the home in an age where is almost a necessi...

The very idea of manhood is complex.  If you ask 10 people how they define manhood you may get 10 different answers.  Yet, if you ask those same men about their journey even though the actual steps may be different there will be common threads.  The commonality is where the opportunity to build lives. Admittedly so there isn’t a manual provided to a parent once a child is born detailing the steps necessary to raise their new bundle of joy.  With that being said all one can do is be the best parent they can be.  In many cases Dad’s draw on the experience of their family structure which provides some structure.  That's if there was a man in the house otherwise it's solely on the job training without the benefit of a previous model.  There are several adaptations to this model, the father/father figure may have had a rough upbringing, there may not be a male figure in the home at all.  This tremendously hinders development on the journe...