Category: What Fathers are saying


 

 The Fatherhood Connection was in the news this week as we graduated our men from the program… Read here for more information on WXXI.  and on  Rochester local news 

 Photo by Alex Crichton

Photo by Alex Crichton

 

Bill Cosby gives funny, yet wonderful insight on Parenting as a Father. Here, Bill describes the frustrations of a father and adds a bit of humor to it.

Please take this time to  notice this video and its impact on the lives of fathers  everywhere… 

For the one in three children growing up in homes without their biological fathers, there is one critical question they can’t seem to silence: “Why did my dad leave?” How can a man just walk away from his family? Is there even an answer?

Yes, says one absent father. In this clip from a special two-hour episode of “Oprah’s Lifeclass” on fatherless sons, an absentee dad named Dwayne reveals exactly why he left his children and his family — and his reasoning is more prevalent among absent fathers than their children might think.

“The reason I walked away is because, at the moment, I wasn’t the man that I wanted to be for [my kids],” Dwayne says in the video. “I put them on a higher pedestal than I put myself. So, at a point, I wasn’t worthy to be in their life because I wasn’t the man that I would want for them.”

According to Roland Warren of the National Fatherhood Initiative, Dwayne’s perspective is one shared by many absent fathers. “I see that quite a bit,” Roland says. However, he also notes that men not feeling like the “perfect” dad stems from a gross misunderstanding about the real role of fathers.

Good fathers, Roland says, do three things: provide, nurture and guide. Yet, too many men have warped ideas of what this means, and it sets them up for feeling unworthy. “The ‘provide’ part, a lot of times, guys will make that economics,” says Roland. “But it’s not just about presents… but presence… You create this script of what this ideal father is supposed to be, and then you try to live up to a script that’s not reality… And then when you don’t [live up to it], you feel, ‘I’m not worthy,’ and you pull away.”

Iyanla Vanzant, who, like Roland, has also worked with fatherless children and families in crisis, puts it another way. “I have found [that] the kryptonite for men is inadequacy,” she says.

The conversation continues: Tune in to “Oprah’s Lifeclass” for an episode on single mothers raising sons, airing Sunday, May 12, at 9 p.m. ET on OWN.

Source : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/08/absent-fathers-dad-why-men-leave-children_n_3231932.html 

Check out HuffPost OWN on Facebook and Twitter.

In a day and age where daughters are trying to find identity, and purpose and connect with their fathers, we commend angela Patton of Camp Diva, and Sheriff C.T. Woody at the Richmond County Jail for allowing permission for a daddy- Daughter dance in Richmond, VA.

Read more about it at this link. Read more  about Angela Patton and CAMP DIVA HERE.

Men’s Fellowship of Mount Olivet Baptist Church

Invites You to a special forum on Fatherhood in Rochester, NY

Moderator
Thabiti Boone… White House Champion of Change

 

President Obama’s Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative

Guest Panelist: Pastor Reginald Cox

DSC_0051

Fatherhood Initiative Coordinator, Monroe County, NY
Andre Harper
Action for a Better Community (ABC)
Angel Alicea
IBERO American Action League
Chief James Sheppard
Chief of Police, Rochester, NY
Mitchell Harris
Author of “Building a Black House”
Mt Olivet Baptist Church September 7, 2013 at 4 –6 pm
141 Adams St Rochester, NY 14608


The Fatherhood Connection is moving across Monroe and Livingston Counties.We having excellent groups in N.Y. area. amd even groups for boys. We hope you enjoy the presentation. If you would like us to present in your area, or are interested n speaking opportunities or presentations, please contact us at thefatherhoodconnection@gmail.com

The Fatherhood Connection recently graduated a group of men who were committed to being fathers and had a great time fellowshipping as a group of men! We are proud of the men who graduated and proud of their commitment as  well!

We thank the men for coming out and participating and be committed to this group and this type of sharing !

THE VOICE OF THE FATHER RESONATES.

ENCOURAGES.

IT PROTECTS HIS CHILDREN FROM HARM. IT CORRECTS, AFFIRMS, IT TOUCHES THE HEART DEEPLY, LIKE A DRUM.

THE VOICE OF THE FATHER IS PERCEPTIVE – IT LEANS IN…

GUIDES AND INSTRUCTS.

HELPS.

THE VOICE OF THE FATHER BRINGS COMFORT TO THE SOUL.

LIKE THE CHILD WHO NEEDS TO BE ROCKED TO SLEEP AFTER BEING WROUGHT WITH FRUSTRATION,

THE VOICE OF THE FATHER HEALS.

THE VOICE OF THE FATHER GIVES. OFFERS RIGHT THINGS – PLANS AND CULTIVATE ONE’S PURPOSE.

THE VOICE OF THE FATHER GIVES LIGHT. GIVES CLARITY.

DIRECTS. OFFERS INSIGHT AND PLEASURE IN OUR LIFE PATH.

THIS IS THE VOICE OF THE FATHER.

THE VOICE OF THE FATHER ISNT ALWAYS RECOGNIZED AS “DAD”…

SOMETIME A FATHER’S VOICE LOOKS LIKE AN UNCLE, A BROTHER, A COUSIN, A MENTOR, … A FRIEND. THE VOICE OF THE FATHER IS MULTI-FACETED.

AND SHARED EVEN… AMONGST MEN.

THE VOICE OF THE FATHER IS FRANK, LOVING, AND BRAVE.

AFFIRMING.

THE VOICE OF THE FATHER IS UNYIELDING… AND YET GENTLE.

THE VOICE OF THE FATHER POSITIONS HIS CHILDREN FOR SUCCESS.

THE VOICE OF THE FATHER BLESSES HIS CHILDREN WITH MIGHT.

 

Author ~ Jennifer Owens ~  In honor of our fathers on Father’s Day

Our Fathers were really impressed with our past few sessions in Batavia and Geneseo . Here  are some of their awesome comments!

Yea TEAM:  Together Everyone Accomplishes Much!

Question: ” Have you changed in any way since 1st attending the group? If so, in what ways? Is there any  feedback from friends or family members?”

   

“Absolutely, I am more patient & deliberate in my relationship w/ my daughter& my girlfriend.”

 “I gained greater insight to the things that affected me and learned a few  parenting skills that I may use.”

 “I learned a lot from the group & the other participants. I would encourage more fathers to come.”

“My family wants to know what happened to me, I said it was the Fatherhood Class.”


“Yes I have learned how to handle things better.”

“Yes, I have become more confident in myself & more aware of the feelings of others.”

“I am much more aware of how I handle my own behavior.”

“The group was very relaxing to interact with,  I would come here tired, but leave the group

  renewed & energized.”

” I would say that I was impressed with those who wanted to make a difference in their parenting.”


“I learned a lot of things that I never knew, thanks for the group,  I need its support.”

” (I have) better understanding of my role as a father.”

” I’ve changed, (I am)  loving it, I’m a new person (so they say…)”

” I have a ton of tools in my toolbox!”