Lead By Example

 

I know the title and the pictures of this blog may have thrown some people off but I purposely as always chose these pictures for a divine reason. That reason is to show that Black/African American men do play a part in their child or children lives. We (Black/African American men) usually always get negative reviews and remarks that we are deadbeat dads!!

Not saying that there are not some out there but we always focus on the negative and less on the positive. I grew up without my dad and him and I do not have a close relationship. My dad has been in and out of jail and prison for half of my life. The negative, I experienced with him, I made it positive as motivation.

Even though I had a couple of failed marriages but all my daughters were born in those marriages. I can gladly say, I was there the day they all were born and I was there when they all took their first steps. My relationship is not the best with all of them but they know they have a dad who is striving to be right and who is God-fearing. They all know even though, they do not get to see me as they like. They know, that, I love them and care for them. And my goals and my plans are now all for them and their future children.

Over the years, I have learned that we must lead our children by being examples. I never did like the saying, “Do What I Say And Not What I Do.” That was one thing my dad told me that stuck in my head because it bothered me. I knew then as I know now, that, we as parents need to lead by example. Especially us Black/African American men. We cannot tell our children to get a good education when we have not tried, we cannot tell them to get a good job, and or start their own business when we have not tried!!

Our children will do as we do and not what we say because actions speak louder than words. So if we want our children to do something, we must lead by example. And that way, if, our children go astray they cannot say, I did what you did!! They can say, you were right and I was wrong but I had to learn on my own.