Super Dad: Stepping Up to the Plate and Not Striking Out. (Reblog)

I’m so impressed with the way my husband, Roland, has embraced fatherhood. He’s a quiet spirit, intelligent, accountable, funny, warm, and seldom breaks a sweat when obstacles come his way. My mom calls him an “old soul.” My dad says, “You’re a lucky kid kiddo to have such a great husband.” What makes my husband an exceptional father and extraordinaire human being is that he has the patience, love, and desire to be a positive and influential figure in our sons’ lives.

Roland and I met in undergrad at Clark Atlanta University, located in Atlanta, GA. He swears he noticed me first, but he caught my eye on the promenade; a place where sorority and fraternity members stroll and future love birds meet. Having the same English class our first year sealed the deal, and six years later we jumped the broom in holy matrimony. I tell him that his life would be boring without me. Secretly, I think he agrees.

If my husband wasn’t so introverted, I’d cast him in a reality show on public access television and call it, “Super Dad.” He’s the modern day Cliff Huxtable, but with a little swagger. More like my dad or President Obama, who made Father’s Day a “national conversation on responsible fatherhood and healthy families,” according to the White House. President Obama bringing the conversation of fatherhood to the forefront is important and vital to the development of children.

Roland’s father and my dad have a strong presence in our lives and provide us daily with lifelong lessons. My husband has continued this with our children. It’s about stepping up to the plate and not striking out. It’s our job to raise strong young men who understand the importance of taking care of their responsibilities, and provide them with positive role models to look up to for guidance, support, and unconditional love. When the time comes, they will be super dads for their children.

Chanda M. Scott Photography

Sojourner Marable Grimmett is Assistant Director, Student Access Programs and Services at the Southern Regional Education Board. She is responsible for administering a regional program called the Academic Common Market which allows students that are in-state to attend out-of-state institutions at in-state rates. A founding host Mom Blogger for FOX 5 News Atlanta, Mom-To-Mom Blogger for Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Sojourner is recognized for writing about the joys and challenges of being a “stay-at-work” mom and connects with moms, both new and experienced, who have the responsibility of raising a family and maintaining a full-time job. Passionate about breastfeeding, Sojourner is co-founder of Table for Two a national campaign to support establishing lactation rooms in public places, visit www.supporttablefortwo.org, on Facebook (@SupportTableforTwo) follow on Twitter (@LactationRooms).

Sojourner has been featured in FitPregnancy, WhatToExpect.com, BlackAndMarriedwithKids.com, MacaroniKid.com, Fox News, and CNN. Sojourner freelances as a social media consultant and has worked with America's largest companies to execute social media marketing strategies and increase customer awareness. Sojourner has a BA in communications from Clark Atlanta University and an MA in media studies from Pennsylvania State University. She is married to her college sweetheart, Roland and they have two young breastfed sons, Roland Jay "RJ" and Joshua Palmer "JP". Visit her blog sojournermarablegrimmett.blogspot.com follow her on Twitter (@sojournerruth) and like her on Facebook (@MarriedwithTwoBoys). She volunteers her services at the YWCA of Greater Atlanta and KIPP (Knowledge Is Power Program) STRIVE Academy.

A Message to My Father

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Dr. Manning Marable: Remembering Our Father

Celebration of the Life of Dr. Manning Marable on the Morningside Campus of Columbia University, Roone Alredge Auditorium, Lerner Hall on May 26, 2011. 

On behalf of my older sister, Malaika, and twin brother, Joshua, we want to thank you for joining us this evening, to celebrate the life of an extraordinary and inspirational man, and above all, an exceptional Father.  On this day, and every day, it makes us proud to honor a true champion for our people, whom he so loved, our Dad.

Our hearts have continued to ache over his passing, but we have found strength in reflecting on the memories that we shared and how he chose to express himself and live on earth.  We are forever thankful and appreciative of everyone who has reached out to us, and who loved him as much as we did. We thank you.

To most of you, he was Dr. Marable, Professor Marable, or Manning. To us he was Dad, Daddy, and Pops. To him we were Tiger, Soji (My Little Girl) and Handsome Son.

There is no greater gift to give your children than to be amazing. Dad was amazing.

Daddy was our Hero.  Growing up we were captivated by his storytelling that took us to his childhood days - playing practical jokes on Uncle Jimmy, marveling over his younger sister, our Aunt Madonna, and spending long-hot summers with family in Tuskegee, Alabama.  He was an animated storyteller, had a great sense of humor and was very funny. His stories of real life experiences captured our imaginations, warmed our hearts, and impacted our lives.

Dad was gifted.  He had the ability to make you feel like you were the most important person in the world.  His charm, charisma, and radiant heart could light up any room.  People were drawn to his magnetism.  Dad was hip and in his own words, a real "cool cat."

Dad provided sound advice at the right moments, to comfort you during the toughest times.  He was always there when you needed him most. His smile, loving hugs, light-hearted jokes and songs, would make you come alive and brighten your day.

As a child, our grandparent's blessed over him and directed him towards becoming a historian. Dad had an incredible mind, and his memory was remarkable.  Growing up, we called him our “walking encyclopedia.”  We could be anywhere, and he would know the importance and historical significance of each place, building, and person.  He was a humble genius.  A classic academic. We recall as children, forming an assembly line at the kitchen counter, stuffing and sealing envelopes for his column,“From the Grassroots,” which later became the column, "Along the Color Line." 

We believe he spoke so passionately about his work because he loved it so much, but also for all of us to carry on his legacy. Every story, every book, every lecture, small talk at the dinner table, walk on the Vineyard, speak truth to power and his words into existence and live not only for him but for yourselves.

He will always be with us. He lives through his teachings, books, students, colleagues, family, children, and grandchildren. Dad would want us to find our life's true passion and live each day walking on that path and fighting for what's right, even when some may be too scared or think that you are wrong. That's speaking truth to power.

We miss everything about him. His laugh. His smile. His real hugs and warm embrace. The way he danced, talked about sports, his listening ear and sound advice.  His hand clap and laugh, pretending to bite his nails waiting to tell us the punchline of a joke. The twinkle in his eyes when he talked about his life's work. The many other books that he had stored in his mind. Him.

So today we say, thank you. Thank you Daddy for being an inspiration to us all. Thank you for being an exceptional human being. Above all thank you for being an amazing Father.

We are forever thankful for his love, support, and guidance.  

Our Dad was not only amazing in his work but truly amazing as a Father. That's the type of legacy that we want to leave. Be Amazing.

Thank you. 

 

Photos from public memorial. 

Dads Change Diapers Too!

I wrote an article not too long ago entitled, Dads: Tips on How You Can Help with Breastfeeding.  This was about my husband assisting with breastfeeding shortly after giving birth to our second son, Joshua.  I argued that new Moms don't have to be on the journey alone.  As a matter of fact, I'd be doggone if my husband refused to help me with breastfeeding!  In the article, I provided a list of ways for dads to help with the process:

DADS TO DO LIST:
1. Adjust the positioning of the pillow
2. Provide water and food
3. Adjust the lighting in the room
4. Burp the baby
5. Change the baby if needed after feeding
6. Swaddle the baby after feeding and changing
7. Clean / cook
8. Massage
9. Take a shift
10. Encourage with love

Some men don't feel like they can help with breastfeeding, or other aspects in raising children, but they really can.  One touchy subject is changing diapers.  I've witnessed dads running out of the room, and disappearing off the face of the earth to get away from a “smelly diaper.”  You'd think they were allergic to diapers!  Witnessing this frustrates me to no end.

My husband and I made a pact that we're in this for the long haul, so both of us prepared to "roll up our sleeves" and commit to the most important job of our lives: raising our children.  This includes the good, the bad, and the stinky.

It's important that we as new moms break the gender stereotypical roles that only women can cook, clean, and take care of our children.  Don't take the excuse from men that prefer these stereotypical roles.  This is 2011.  Grab a wipe, butt paste, and change a diaper!