I believe that sex education is a vital part of a child's education in school. I think that the biology and, in some part, the sociology is an important part of the education a child should receive. I believe in teaching them about the anatomy, different types of families (mom/dad, dad/dad, mom/mom, grandparents raising grandchildren, etc), and what body changes adolescents go through during puberty are an important lesson and a necessary part of growth and development.
With that being said, I believe that there are certain lessons that are best taught at home. One of these such lessons is that it takes more than sperm to be a daddy (there is a flip side for moms but I will cover this another time). This is a controversial topic in some circles and often splits people into two separate groups based on personal life experiences or the life experiences of a loved one. Then again, I'm not all that concerned with other people's judgments on my opinions...opinions are like buttholes; everyone has one.
There is a group of men in this world that are highly lauded in my heart. These are the biological fathers that take ownership of their babies. (This is not, in any way, related to men/couples that give up their child for adoption. That takes a whole different level of bravery and love for their child and can not even begin to be compared to deadbeat dads). Unfortunately, there seem to be more and more "deadbeat dads" out there. Even more unfortunate are the deadbeat dads that are still in a "traditional" two parent household. I'm not just talking about not taking financial responsibility; I'm talking about emotional, physical, and mental support as well. Very little warms my heart more than a true "daddy" that puts their children first, loves them unconditionally, plays with them, supports them in every way, and truly enjoys fatherhood. It's awesome to me to see fathers (whether in a two parent household, single dads, or shared custody dads) who truly enjoy the blessing they've been given to the fullest.
There is another group of men that are equally as endearingly adored in my heart: the dads that take over when a biological parent makes the decision to not be a parent. Sometimes they come in the form of step parents (who sometimes adopt the children at a later time) but they also come in other forms, as well. It takes a lot of courage, love, and a million other wonderful qualities to take over where someone else decided that they didn't want to go. This is another instance of family being more than just a blood relationship. There is an elite group of daddies that picked up where someone else dropped the ball and run it all the way to the end zone.
I don't want to leave out "surrogate" father figures. This might be a family member (grandfather, etc) or it might be a coach, neighbor, or other such person. These surrogate father figures contribute their wisdom, time, and love to children that they simply want to be there for. It's not a part of a love relationships with the child's mother; it's simply a desire to want to provide a positive male influence for a child that might otherwise not experience that love. These, too, are amazing and wonderful men that deserve applause.
The final group of "dads" I think deserve some applause are the single moms that have to serve multiple roles. Having lived this role, I fully understand how difficult it can be and, for mothers that raise their children through their entire childhood in this role, I am amazed at the bravery, love, and other wonderful qualities it takes to serve both roles in a child's life.
Whatever kind of daddy is in your child's life, I hope that you applaud them every day. Let them know that they're loved and admired in a way that lets them experience the appreciation they deserve. Happy Father's Day.
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