BARACK OBAMA:A FATHER’S JOB DOES NOT END AT CONCEPTION
For President Barack Obama, Father’s day is not only a day to spend with his daughters, but also a time to reflect on what fatherhood means to him. In the following excerpt taken from an essay that will be published in this Sunday’s issue of Parade, Barack writes about being a father to his daughters Malia,10, and Sasha,8 and growing up without a father:
As the father of two young girls who have shown such poise, humor, and patience in the unconventional life into which they have been thrust, I mark this Father’s Day—our first in the White House—with a deep sense of gratitude.
I observe this Father’s Day not just as a father grateful to be present in my daughters’ lives but also as a son who grew up without a father in my own life. My father left my family when I was 2 years old, and I knew him mainly from the letters he wrote and the stories my family told.
Barack and a young Sasha Kiss
And while I was lucky to have two wonderful grandparents who poured everything they had into helping my mother raise my sister and me, I still felt the weight of his absence throughout my childhood.
In many ways, I came to understand the importance of fatherhood through its absence—both in my life and in the lives of others. I came to understand that the hole a man leaves when he abandons his responsibility to his children is one that no government can fill. We can do everything possible to provide good jobs and good schools and safe streets for our kids, but it will never be enough to fully make up the difference.
We need fathers to step up, to realize that their job does not end at conception; that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child but the courage to raise one.
We need to step out of our own heads and tune in. We need to turn off the television and start talking with our kids, and listening to them, and understanding what’s going on in their lives.
I know I have been an imperfect father. I know I have made mistakes. I have lost count of all the times, over the years, when the demands of work have taken me from the duties of fatherhood. There were many days out on the campaign trail when I felt like my family was a million miles away, and I knew I was missing moments of my daughters’ lives that I’d never get back. It is a loss I will never fully accept.
Barack and a young Malia
On this Father’s Day, I think back to the day I drove Michelle and a newborn Malia home from the hospital nearly 11 years ago—crawling along, miles under the speed limit, feeling the weight of my daughter’s future resting in my hands. I think about the pledge I made to her that day: that I would give her what I never had—that if I could be anything in life, I would be a good father.
THATS GOURGEOUS
Trully brings tears to my eyes….
I grew up with out my father, but seeing great men like our president and reading his words here are reassurance that there is hope for my children!!!
God bless all the real men and fathers out there!!
That is SO beautiful. Hat’s off to Mr. President and all the fathers around the world…especially mine.
Aww that’s a wonderful speech. =D
I agree fathers day is deffinately about reflection, props to him The prez is deep
U gotta love this man…he is representing/showing men (BLACK MEN) how important it is to be involved in his childrens lives…Men should realize how important they are in the lives of their sons/daughters…I am so glad Barack Obama is our president…He may not be the most experienced…he may not be able to do alot of things because he is only HUMAN and we all make mistakes but I love the fact that he is a Black Man, I am not a racist because I have plenty of non African American family members, but it is so beautiful to see a Black man with his Black woman representing for us all…I want to be a daddy’s girl..didn’t happen so anytime I see a Black Man involved in anyway he can (and not just child support) I am very proud
Thanks to the dear Lord that my father was in the home when my sister & I were growing up & he still is today. He showed us what it was like to have a father in the home. To have a bond with your father is the most awsome thing in the world. I LOVE & MISS YOU DADDY, I enjoyed seeing you this past weekend & hope to see you again really soon!!! YOU’RE THE BEST FATHER I COULD HAVE ASKED FOR.. shout out to my dad, JWP. I’d also like to thank my husband for being the dad he is to our 3 children, love you babe!!!!
BARACK, BARACK, BARACK!!!!! GOOD GRACIOUS!!!!
You’re such an amazine father & leader. Your girls {Michelle included} are so blessed to have you in their lives. Keep up the role model thingy.
HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO ALL THE “GOOD” FATHERS!!!!
I love the Obamas all their pictures are so precious. I know there are alot of black women out there who didn’t have a father and wish there father was like this man. I am one who wishes my father was around and an intellectual man like the president.
Just beautiful!!! wondeful speech he is such a great father and leader God Bless him!!
TOO CUTE
HAPPY FATHERZ DAY TO ALL THOSE THAT HAD, HAVE & WILL HELP THE WOMEN RAISED THE CHILDREN, THE PRESIDENT IS A GOOD FATHER EXAMPLE TO ALL MEN, NOT JUST BLACK MEN, BUT ALL MEN, THANKS, AND ENJOY THIS BLESSED DAY!
*tears* politics aside how can you not love this man simply as a man?
Awwww Its so sweet.