2 Children: son 22 daughter 14
3. Toughest part of your Job as a Dad / Mistake(s) made/ Any Regrets in your journey.
Toughest part of my job as a Dad would-be when I used to let go of some lashes but that was necessary. Proverbs 22:15 states, “foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction shall drive it far from him or her.”
Yes there have been mistakes along the journey. We are only humans and you have to learn to be a Parent. One minute you are a kid the next you are a Dad some of the teachings and sayings from your parents you end up relying on that foundation they would have brought you up on will go on for Generations unless you drop the baton and want your kids to come up totally different to your upbringing excluding all the discipline and guidance our strong parents had put down.
Regrets: I wish I could have been around more in terms of Bank Holidays, taking my son in particular to the beach more and spending more time with him, but I was a young Dad wanting to provide for my family so the hustle was on, it was work work work.
My son who, when he would wake up would not see me and when it's time for Bed I still wouldn't have reached in as yet, one day he asked his mom, “does Daddy still live here?” It sounded funny to people when I relay that, but it's the price I had to pay to ensure he didn't lack and to fulfil my responsibilities.
4. Greatest Joy experienced in your role.
Some of the greatest joys in my life have been to see these kids accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour and to see my wife and I raise some good decent human beings.They could be a little lazy at times but I love them and I'm very proud of them.
I can remember when my son was in his last year at Lester Vaughn he found, I think, $50 or $100 dollars in the classroom and he took it to the office and declared where he found it. A security guard and a gentleman were present and one asked, “where he come from?” The other replied, “You won't know him, cause he doesn't come in here for trouble, there are still some good ones around.” His peers called him foolish saying they would have locked that money but that's not how he was raised. My heart burst with joy and I thank God.
5. Nugget(s) of Wisdom you would want to share with other Dads.
Be there for your kids even if you don't live with them, support and work with mom, unity is strength. When they see you two working together they would know Dad is only a phone call away. When a home has Mom and Dad you have your family structure set out and suffer them to know the Lord. When I was young in St Vincent, Church was compulsory, I had no choice.
A strong God fearing Dad equals a stable home, a stable home equals a stable community etc.