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.
Originally published in Southwest Parenting Magazine.
