During the summer of 2020, we’re celebrating the fathers, grandfathers, and other parental figures in our community. We are proud to share their reflections on what it means to be a parent and how their lives have been enriched by the experience.

I never met my biological father. I did have a stepfather for many years of my youth. I loved him like he was my biological father. He was the one who introduced me to my love of fishing. We fished all the time when I was young. We had bets on who was going to catch the biggest fish, the most fish and the first fish. I was good and can say that I won a lot of those bets.

I aim to be the father that learned from his childhood and is intentional in my son’s life. I want to be that person Kai, my son, can come to with anything. Not because I’m his father, more so because we have that connection and bond. I want to be a father that teaches and shows my son emotions and how to work through them and sit in them. I would like for my son to know that crying and emotions are all about being human. I want to help guide him into anything that he wants to do in life. I want to only introduce him to many different things in life, yet give him space to choose his own path.

My life has changed so much since becoming a father. I have an honor and great responsibility in raising a child. I see the bigger picture more now in life. His life supports me in taking a pause and making the right decision. I often said, “this is my lil dude.” He loves unconditionally and he is my role model.

I just want a world that see the innocence in each other and treats all with love and compassion.