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Even though, President Obama didn’t grow up with his father…he turned out to be a good father. And I think he is a great example of fathers that break the cycle of abandoning their children. The thing is, it’s easy to forget that President Obama experienced the pain of not knowing his dad when we see him being the leader of the free world.
In his book, Dreams of My Father, the POTUS explores the loss of his father and his search for identity. Given that we’re celebrating Father’s Day, I thought it would be good to celebrate all the dads that are doing things right despite their personal experiences…including the First Dad.
Here’s five lessons on fatherhood from President Obama.
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The Past Doesn’t Have to Dictate the Future
President Obama describes his father as a tragic figure. Barack Obama Sr. was born in Kenya, graduated from Harvard but became an alcoholic, was abusive to several women and died in a car wreck.
In his book, the POTUS explains that his mother and her family shielded him from the negative qualities of his father. The stories they told of Barack Obama Sr. where always of hope, honesty and being brave.
Cycles don’t have to be repeated. Each of us has a choice on the path we choose. And I think Barack Obama Sr.’s good qualities are what we see in the First Dad.
Fathers Shape Us
“Fathers impart lessons and values we will always carry with us.”
That’s what President Obama said during his 2012 Father’s Day Speech. He went on to explain that whether a father is biological, foster or adoptive they teach us by:
- the encouragement they give
- the questions they answer
- the limits they set
- and their strength during difficulty.
Communities struggle when dads don’t play their part.
But millions of men—coaches, mentors, pastors and the like—step in where others have stepped out. And there are better men in the world because of your sacrifice. Thank you.
Tell Your Kids What You Think of Them
We live in a society that says: men who show emotion are weak. But President Obama is quick to choke up and gush about just how great his daughters are.
He even wrote a book telling them all about his hopes and dreams for their future. I think that’s a good lesson for all parents, but especially dads. Please don’t let us wonder what you think of us. Tell us. Every. Single. Day.
And to the dads who already gush and tear up over your kids, kept it up! It does embarrass us a little, but your words strengthen us and remind us that we are more capable than we know.
Parenting is a Partnership
Whether married or co-parenting, children thrive when both parents are active and engaged. In an interview with Ellen, President Obama credited Michelle for the beautiful young women his daughters are becoming. As he has said many times–Michelle is the rock of the family.
But he’s a played a huge role too. Despite being Commander-In-Chief, he’s coached Sasha’s basketball team, attends Malia’s tennis matches and goes to parent-teacher conferences with Michelle.
Which brings us to the most important lesson we learn from President Obama…
Be Present, No Matter What
“Even with our jam-packed days, Michelle and I work hard to carve out certain blocks of family time that are sacrosanct. For example, at 6:30 p.m., no matter how busy I am, I leave work to go upstairs and have dinner with my family. That’s inviolable.”
I had to look up those words: sacrosanct and inviolable. But, basically, President Obama is saying ‘I don’t play’ when it comes to family meal time. It’s just one of the examples he gave on the importance of being present for The Huffington Post.
I can’t imagine any parent, being busier than he and Michelle. We should all follow their example: keep our families first, despite the demands of life.
[tps_footer]BMWK: If you know a dad, that’s not repeating the cycle…tag him here and let us know what you love about him. [/tps_footer]