Successful Fathers
Some might say that in order for a man to be a successful father he needs to have a Job that brings in a lot of money. Are we really going to label someone for the size of his paycheck? Yes, fathers do need to provide for their family, but they do so much more than just, “bring home the bacon.” Fathers have the unique opportunity to be the provider but also, they can love and nurture their children as well. Mothers are the primary source for nurturing in the home, but fathers provide a different kind of love. Never underestimate the love of a father, it is something so special, and powerful. I feel very fortunate that I was able to grow in in a home with a dad. I realize that not all people have the opportunity for the father to be in the home due to certain circumstances and my heart feels for them. No one should have to live this life without a dad or a mom. As a child some of my fondest memories where when my dad would take me on a bike ride on summer evening nights. Sometimes my mom or one of my siblings would come with, but often it was just the two of us. We would ride our bikes to the park or around the neighborhood and just talk, I cherished these moments with my dad because he was often tied up most nights with church responsibilities. As busy as my dad would get sometimes, he always tried to make time for his kids.
The dynamics of family’s changed after the 19th century once fathers stopped being farmers and went to work for the industries. Often before that time, work was a family event. All of the family members help pitch in with the workload around the house and the farm. Working together side by side every day. Fathers were very involved in their children’s lives because they were home all the time. Now after the industrialization fathers were making a living outside of the home and often had to be away for long hours, sometimes even days. How do you think this would change the dynamics of the family? Well to start, this became a big stress on the mother because she would now have to try and play both roles as mom and dad, while dad is out of the house, but it’s not possible for her to do both. The children won’t have a personal relationship with their dad like they used to if he’s almost never home, and when he is home it’s often hard for them all to interact with each other. It’s like the family is living two separate lives. We can still see this pattern in our society today.
Having money to provide for your family is necessary and important, but it’s not worth having a brand-new car and a big house with a pool if it means that as a dad you will have to be gone for work more than you are at home. Living a modest life doesn’t mean that you aren’t happy or successful, it means that you are making the sacrifice to love and raise your kids. I’ve never heard of anyone getting to the end of their life and saying that they wished they had worked more, no, they will say I wish I had spent more time with my family. After we die the only thing that we get to take with us in our knowledge and our family, I don’t know about you, but I would much rather have my family with me forever than any possession I owned.
This is Our Happy Place 