Patience is a virtue

I have spent countless hours configuring ways to be a better father, while examining my flaws and revisiting my own childhood. I thank God for having a father in my life and to this day he continues to give me the inspiration and motivation that I need to be a better father to my son. There have been times when I have called him in tears, frustrated over the actions of my son, seeking his advice over the most recent catastrophe . Needless to say he hasn't always told me what I wanted to hear. There have been times when all I wanted him to say was "Son get your ass outta that situation", well that never happened! He would often chuckle and remind me of some of the stunts that I pulled as a kid and then let me know that despite all of that he's still here. He just gave me a jewel of wisdom without even pointing it out to me.

This in itself is a testament to his resolve and patience as a father, because honestly some of the things I've done as a kid were horrendous, which I will go into in future blogs. In my opinion a father is vital to the healthy growth and development of a child, whether it be a boy or a girl. Although there are some very strong mothers out there, who are single parents, the foundation that can be developed for a child with a father in their life is invaluable! Fathers develop character in their sons simply through leading by example, with a few words of wisdom thrown in, and he provides a role model for his daughter, which gives her a guideline in how to choose a boyfriend and at some point a husband.

I am still figuring out what it takes to be a decent father to my son, while overcoming the adversity that plays into this role, and it ain't easy! Often times when my son does something that rubs me the wrong way, I find that I have to remove myself from the immediacy of that situation and re-group. I'm not good at dealing with issues when I'm pissed off and my dilemma is that once I do calm down, I am less likely to give a punishment as severe as I would have, had I dealt it out while I was pissed off.

There are times when our kids do things that if someone outside of our immediate family did them, we would write them off forever. Well hello folks!!!!!! Good, bad or indifferent that kid is yours till death due you part, so build your bridge and get over it because that kid isn't going anywhere. In my next blog I will share some parenting experiences with you, that hopefully will help you overcome some of the issues you are dealing with and give you a broader base of information on how to handle future episodes as they occur. God Bless!