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Tag Archives: Fatherlessness
A whisper of hope falls silent
We last spoke on Father’s Day 2017. I delayed calling in part because I never made the effort to send your card, and a small part of me felt guilty. I didn’t want to explain myself to someone who wouldn’t … Continue reading
This Father’s Day, pinky swear to be there
“Field of Dreams” has to be one of my favorite movies of all time. It manages to combine seemingly disparate themes (baseball, faith, redemption, persistence) in a great narrative that speaks to me on many levels. I hadn’t thought of … Continue reading
HuffPost Live: Fatherless fathers can make good fathers
A producer with HuffPost Live emailed me last week to see if I’d participate in a live-streaming discussion on fatherlessness in America. The discussion would revolve around this HuffPost blog post based on a recurring theme on Jay-Z’s newest album: the fears … Continue reading
I refuse to accept fatherlessness
I can think of two moments in my life when I felt the hand of God pulling me. The first occurred on March 20, 1996. I was 27 years old, and working as an assistant editor for a chain of community … Continue reading
Seeing the courage to forgive in ‘Courageous’
I expected “Courageous” to give me a renewed sense of dedication to living the life of a great father and setting the right example for my children. After all, the movie emphasizes the need for fathers to play an active … Continue reading
Advice for single mothers
Longtime readers know I grew up fatherless, the third of four children to a single mother. I can’t overstate the effect of fatherhood abandonment, but statistics tell part of the story. Children who grow up in fatherless homes are more … Continue reading
That dreadful Thanksgiving Day phone call
I can’t wait to sit down Thursday to a full Thanksgiving Day spread at my sister’s house, pour thick gravy over a mound of mashed potatoes, mix it with a piece of juicy turkey, dip it in Karen’s signature cranberry … Continue reading
Don’t erase dads
I can’t count the number of television shows and commercials that either try to erase dads or make us look like bumbling idiots. Whether it’s Dad asking Mom ridiculous questions to which she always says no, or it’s commercials that … Continue reading
‘Absent’ tells an important story of fatherlessness
Who knew I had so much in common with James Hetfield? You know the guy, the Metallica frontman? He sings with gusto, from the bottom of his gut, in a way that attracts fans to sell-out shows wherever his band plays. … Continue reading
A few words from my son remind me of growing up fatherless
I love listening to Hair Nation on SiriusXM. I realize none of the music is original and the bands that fill its airwaves are better known for breaking laws and hotel lamps than musical barriers, but that’s not the point. … Continue reading