Men Don't Listen and Wayne L. Misner 2023©    

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This Father©

(By Wayne L. Misner www.MenDontListen.com, MenDontListen@aol.com)


   Every man who fathers a child has a moral and sacred responsibility to his children. Having two sons and a daughter, I took this responsibility as a profound commitment. The following story is how I want my children to perceive me:

   A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge.
The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter:
"Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river."

The little girl said:
"No, Dad. You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?" Asked the puzzled father.
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.
"If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are

that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand,

I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."


   Fathering has been very rewarding – and very demanding for me (I had no role model as a child and we know children don’t come with “how-to” manuals). This I have learned; effective parenting often involves putting yourself second and giving unconditional love. It was hard for me to learn to let my daughter struggle though some of life's problems and challenges. If I had overprotected her, she may have either rebelled or become dependent. Neither of those outcomes would be positive. A father is responsible for providing emotional, social, and financial support for his family. Children need affection from their father, both physical and verbal. They need reassurance, along with kind and loving discipline.



 


   My daughter has gained self confidence in herself over all these years. Her accomplishments are just too many to list here. However, if she was playing a sport instead of living her life she would have experienced the most miraculous transcending moment by achieving Sports' Greatest Comeback Win ever witnessed by mankind. From the first day of her life, I have been interested in her activities, achievements, opinions, and aspirations. She has taught me how to express feelings, emotions, and I’ve learned about empathy, sensitivity to her emotions, and how to express my own emotions.  My relationship with her, I hope, will establish how she relates to men in her life. I believe her future relationships are influenced strongly by the kind of relationship she has had with me throughout her childhood and adulthood. I want my children to remember me, not for the material things I have provided, but for the way that I have cherished them.