PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PENS ESSAY ABOUT FATHERHOOD
President Barack Obama pens essay on how growing up without a dad has made him want to be the father “i never had”.
I grew up without a father around. I have certain memories of him taking me to my first jazz concert and giving me my first basketball as a Christmas present. But he left when I was two years old.
And even though my sister and I were lucky enough to be raised by a wonderful mother and caring grandparents, I always felt his absence and wondered what it would have been like if he had been a greater presence in my life. I still do. It is perhaps for this reason that fatherhood is so important to me, and why I’ve tried so hard to be there for my own children.
That’s not to say I’ve always been a perfect dad. I haven’t. When Malia and Sasha were younger, work kept me away from home more than it should have. At times, the burden of raising our two daughters has fallen too heavily on Michelle. During the campaign, not a day went by that I didn’t wish I could spend more time with the family I love more than anything else in the world.
But through my own experiences, and my continued efforts to be a better father, I have learned something over the years about what children need most from their parents.
17 Comments to “PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA PENS ESSAY ABOUT FATHERHOOD”
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OH AND BY THE WAY PLEASE VOTE CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF THIS MAN HAS REALLY DONE WELL SINCE HE HAS BEENIN OFFICE ….
BEAUTIFUL FAMLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OUR PRESIDENT IS SO INTELLIGENT AND BEAUTIFUL. BARACK AND MICHELLE ARE THE BEST LOOKING FAMILY EVER!
I was one of the fortunate ones to have a great father and though he passed away last year, the love he showed my siblings and I will be with us forever. I thank God for the love of my dad. Not all black men are hopeless fathers. Love Barack
I’m 21 and understand exactly what he is taking about. My dad also bailed out on my mum and saw me once when i was a month old. I feel his absence now and then…i felt it even more as a teenager. Growing without a dad made me swear to myself that i will never have a kid out of wedlock or choose a man with no back bone!
ME 2!
I love me some Barack
I love Barack!
Love my President!
Me, too! BCK Father of the Century!
Gotta to love the President.
I would say he had it harder since his mother and grandparents are white and his sister is non-black.But his grandparents and mother clearly did their best in raising him to be one of the greatest men on this planet and a history making President.
Obama is the epitome of a great father, husband and man.
Luckily he has a great wife and mother like Michelle to fall back on. I’m glad that Barack is not only a great father but an even better husband.
The love he has for his wife and kids shines all the time.
Can’t wait to read the rest.
Very well said Bookworm. I totally agree. I really love and appreciate this family.
Like the POTUS, I was raised without my father. My husband’s presence in our childrens lives and his pure love for them, makes me love him even more. I’m sure the FLOTUS has some of those same feelings.
Can’t wait to read that. I hope men (especially black men) are hearing the President when he speaks to them about the importance of being in your children’s lives.
I hope they do too, Jessica. There are so many black men who are wonderful fathers, but don’t get the credit. Rarely are those brothers exposed to the world. The media loves to focus on the negative. I hope the men who aren’t great fathers take notice.
I hope so too.
I hope so too. So many men not just black men don’t know the damage they do by not being in their kids life.