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DEAR EDITOR:
Another Father's Day is here with all the sales and gifts that most dads don't need, but will undoubtedly receive. The No. 1 thing missing that matters most to fathers is an attitude of gratitude. Dads thrive on respect and gratitude for all their work and sacrifice. They are responsible for keeping a roof over their families, providing food, shelter, and safety for everyone in their household. With all the wrong messaging of toxic masculinity from TV, movies, new outlets, and social media it's a wonder men are still stepping up to fulfill their roles as providers, protectors, disciplinarians, and most importantly leadership through spiritual guidance in their children's life.
Ask yourself how many movies or TV shows or newscasts shed a positive light on men currently? Men are deemed useless if they don't have a prestigious career such as a doctor or lawyer. How many of us think about all the backbreaking careers that make our modern life possible?
The brick layers, concrete finishers, oil rig workers, plumbers, steel workers, sanitation workers, carpenters, and the list goes on of all the hard labor jobs that are dangerous and physically break down one's body. All good men will move mountains for their family if they are respected.
Men need to step up their game and take responsibility for their actions. We now have the term "baby mommas" and how many boys, not men, have children by different women? Does this make our society better or worse? With ninety percent of incarcerated people not having an active father in their life I think the record speaks for itself. Fathers play a vital role in our families and there is no substitute. There's a drastic difference between being a father and fathering a child, and somehow our society has confused the two.
Fathers need to be raising men, not boys, by working with them and then giving them work to complete from an early age. Boys should be working with their fathers learning how to maintain equipment and tools and how to problem solve. If you're not working your child, then you're failing them. Life is work and human relationships and when they are teenagers it's way too late to teach them. Remember as a parent your focus is twofold, keeping them safe and working yourself out of a job as their parent. The only way you work yourself out of a job is by teaching your child to work hard and smart.
This is dedicated to my father, who always taught me to work through problematic issues with purpose and feel the pride of accomplishment so I could enjoy my free time. God Bless all the Fathers.
TIM SANTELL
KInsman