Comments on: A Father’s Day Reflection

By: Belinda

Belinda — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 14:35:01 +0000

Great, point, Mia. When parents don’t have shared custody, it makes for a complicated situation.

By: Mia

Mia — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:21:28 +0000

It’s tough when a father wants to be there, but the mother moves away, any each time he tries to move close, she moves again. There are many fathers who are no longer with the mother, that WANT to be in the child’s life, but that option is removed because of the mother. Much respect to you, fathers, who fight for your parental rights.

By: Fr. Michael

Fr. Michael — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:50:51 +0000

I think a single parent is heroic; but there’s no question that the ideal is to have a good mother and a good father in the home. MIA fathers, I think, is a huge problem and I believe it has contributed to a real crisis of manhood in our culture.

On a personal note, I definitely love being a father figure…spiritually speaking.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 01:14:08 +0000

I think the reason all those dads are MIA is related to the same reason women are still secondary in the workforce. Women, by nature, are more bound to their children. I think their instinct (and socialization although find me a society where the man takes primary responsibility of the child) to protect and care runs far deeper than the father.

By: Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri

Rudri Bhatt Patel @ Being Rudri — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:58:35 +0000

The statistics are alarming. No solutions here, but nodding in agreement that parenting in a partnership is much easier than the solo route. I have tremendous admiration for those who take sole responsibility for that role.

By: BigLittleWolf

BigLittleWolf — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:41:05 +0000

As one of those 84%, and doing it virtually solo, I’ll say that the price is terribly, terribly high. And while I cannot quantify the collective impact (opportunity cost, drag on our health care system, the psychological impacts on our children, among others), it is shameful that a nation with the potential of ours cannot do better.

I thank you for recognizing these realities on Father’s Day, and the fact that men and women both should be sharing in the raising of their children. It’s best for all of us, and certainly for the next generation.

By: brian miller

brian miller — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:43:45 +0000

you cant argue with the stats…and then the ones that do stick around have in many cases settled for a low bar of fatherhood as in just being present…i give props to anyone that can raise a child individually, its hard enough as a team…

By: Talon

Talon — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:24:30 +0000

Really sad statistics, Belinda. My father was far from perfect, but, if not for him, I wouldn’t be only the person I am today. He’s been gone many years, but I still miss him.

My husband is a good father. My daughter and I were talking about him (as how he is as a father and how different phases of life affected his fathering) just yesterday. I don’t know how my 3 would have turned out without him in our lives. To all the single parents, I give a huge shout-out. I honor them completely. Parenting is definitely not for the faint-hearted