CEBU, Philippines - I saw this photo taken a month ago, of three childhood friends turned moms with their kids. I was very curious and asked a few friends about their take on fatherhood, childhood friendships, and second generation friendships. You’ve probably heard or read somewhere that for many girls, dads are the standards set in finding for themselves their partners in life.
So I asked some young fathers about their status and found out how they regard fatherhood as such a blessing. These young dads disclosed that fatherhood brings them so much joy and pride despite anxieties and pressures of providing well for their families. Fatherhood means having extra energy to play with the kids after arriving home tired from work. At times, daddies even get elevated to the status of “superhero” in the eyes of their children. They are the most handsome repairmen of toys, coaches in sports, authors of stories never heard before. They are the most intelligent and the most important persons to their children. The expectations of offsprings give fatherhood a long-term purpose and a deeper meaning in the daddies’ lives. Where once upon a time the conversations with childhood friends evolved around the latest games and coolest gadgets, they now share opinions on school policies, discipline, diapers, toys and tricks that can amuse their little ones. They feel very fortunate and somehow fulfilled when they see the second generation friendship of their children. It is a reminder of how far along they are in the journey of their lives. Fortunately, they have the comfort and relief of getting honest answers from peers, on how to go about with parenting adorable rascals, without being judged. There are perks with hanging out with your childhood buddies’ kids, too. It’s like watching your own lost childhood days of playing with much gusto. It means not worrying too much because you know everyone is looking out for everybody else’s child’s best interest at heart. And what a reflection of character it would be if these kids grow up to be second generation good friends in the years to come.
These dads are in agreement with setting the bar for their kids. They believe role modelling is necessary for fathers to teach children to make good choices in life. That in being responsible fathers and gentle husbands, they model to their boys how to treat women, and to little princesses, how women should be treated. In being kind to others, God-fearing and God-loving dads, they are capable of moulding their own children to become, in turn, God-fearing, God-loving and kind young adults. When asked how they feel about the standards they’ve set for their kids, they are hopeful that they’ve set it high enough. That, as fathers, they are humble enough to admit that they may not be that ideal and perfect as persons but that they won’t give up working on it.
Happy Father’s Day! (FREEMAN)