I have always felt that the majority of the problems in our society are due to missing fathers.
When dad is not around, many children (especially boys) find a substitute in the wrong place.
Look at the prison population and notice that most inmates did not have a father to relate to.
Many other young men that have avoided prison have fathered children with no intention of getting married or offering financial support.
More than likely, their own fathers did the same things to them.
Moms do everything they can.
You can always count on good old mom.
Some moms without husbands put the fear of God in their children and never have trouble with sons or daughters.
However, many moms who do absolutely everything they can to keep children in line lose control of their young aggressive sons (and some daughters) and feel helpless.
Most dads I have known in my life, including my close male friends that are dads, were not tyrants...
they were benevolent dictators.
They showed tough love.
Sons will always test the boundaries of your patience.
How much can they get away with before dad slams on the brakes? I once asked a business associate how he raised his sons and daughters to be solid citizens.
My own sons were very young at the time.
He told me that half the battle was just being there for them.
He participated in their lives.
So, how do we get that message to young men that do not want any responsibilities for their own new sons and daughters? Tell them about Torii Hunter.
Torii grew up in a drug infested neighborhood with a father that abused drugs.
"My motivation was to get my family out of poverty" says Hunter.
"I wanted to be their hero, the first guy to help my family out.
" No, we cannot all be professional baseball players (Hunter plays in the Major Leagues)...
but everyone has some kind of talent that can be developed by a passion to do well.
We all have something of value that no one else can take from us.
We must get these young men to believe, and then act.