What About Dads?
Certainly, we see many, many women at Crossroads who have little to no help from the father of their children. Every day, we whisper our own personal “thank-you’s” to our donors and prayer partners for providing the means for us to step in with love, support and assistance for these moms.
But it’s important for Crossroads’ supporters to also know about unsung-hero dads. These young men who are facing the double-whammy of hard economic times and cultural pushback against the concept of the nuclear family as they try to establish their own young households. Dads like:
● “Rob,” who is serving as a father to his partner’s daughter to another man, as well as to their own newborn. He admits he didn’t have the best parental models at home, and doesn’t know much about how to be a dad. But he wants to be. Rob works hard and is up for promotion at his job. On his day off each week, he rouses his wife and reminds her, “We’ve got to get moving. This is a Crossroads day!” He rarely misses Crossroads classes, asking to watch videos on being a role model and a consistent parent who disciplines from a place of love. He tells us he is grateful for help with diapers and warm clothing for his rapidly growing infant as he works toward his promotion. It is clear his infant and his stepdaughter adore him. They know they are loved.
● “Aaron,” who has a relatively good-paying job and was raised by a strong father. His desire is to be a good Christian dad, provide financially, and train his children up in the way they should go. He is battling fatigue from shifts that start in the early morning and go past a typical eight hours and his determination to relieve his wife from some of their infant’s night-time feedings. When his wife insists that he leave a Crossroads appointment early because he is starting to fall asleep, he rouses himself and says, “No, this is important. I need to be here for you and for the baby.”
● “Stephen,” who fathered a child with a girlfriend who quickly tried to cut Stephen out of the baby’s life. There are indeed men who might have been happy to have “an out,” and simply walk. Not Stephen. In love with his child, Stephen is fighting for additional visitation and custody so he can be there for his little one throughout the formative years and beyond. He WANTS to be a father. So he comes to Crossroads faithfully for parenting classes, learning how to soothe his little one through teething, how to keep a baby safe as they learn to roll, crawl and walk, and how to help his child reach developmental milestones today, and tomorrow.
Nobody cares about dads? Not true. Crossroads cares. And so do the precious children who come through our doors each week with eyes fixed on Dad, a hero in their hearts.
Amy Miller, Client Services Manager