While everyone rejoices over the birth of a child, the father steels himself to face up to the responsibilities that come along with this moment of happiness. The feeling of fatherhood is beautiful. True fatherhood is not a product of having immense resources to spend on one’s offspring. Rather, it is desire, diligence and determination to fulfil the commitment one has made as part of this process. The protection of a father is one of the strongest needs of children.
To the world he may just be a father, but to his family he is the world. The value of fatherhood is underrated in our society. The love of a mother and the sacrifices of a father go hand in hand. Fathers are not just sails to take us to the destination, but are guiding lights who hold our hands to make sure we find our way.

The immense responsibility
From the time he gently holds his child in his arms for the first time, he knows that it is on him to provide a stable family life, infused with care and love. He strives hard from day one to provide everything, no matter how difficult. Even when times are tough, he goes out of his way to provide for the wants and desires of his family, not just their needs. It is a struggle of a lifetime, not merely of a day or two. He leads his child into the big and scary world gently, with care and fair warning of the things to come.

Many of us do not get the time, or have the willingness to sit and ponder about the nature of such relationships. We are often quite distant from our fathers, especially as we grow up. But as mature adults, it is time to evaluate the immensity of sacrifices made by our parents. Fathers too, by the dint of their burden and the weight of society’s expectations on how to behave, often silence and bury their own emotions. Neither do they expect a ‘thank you’, nor do those insignificant words mean much in return to the depth of their love.

Fathers, our undermined heroes
How long does it usually take us to realise that our fathers are heroes in disguise. From the tumultuous journey of an immature childhood, to the rebellious teenager phase, to the burdens of our adult lives, by the time we realise their worth, it might even be too late. Mostly, we do not even understand the reasons behind their actions, and simmer in our own anger and frustration over the things they say or do. But it is our duty to break through this wall in communication and speak to each other, with empathy and understanding.

There would be shortcomings in all relationships. Fatherhood is no exception. There are many examples of absent fathers, careless parenting and harsh behaviour. This can lead to immense childhood trauma and affect the personality and character of the child, and even lead them to repeat the same toxic behaviour with their own childhood. This only shows us how important it is to break the cycle of silence and address such issues within the home.

A constant presence
Not everyone in the world is fortunate enough to have this kind of support throughout their lives. Some even lose their fathers before their birth, and some at later stages. But, even in their absence, they leave behind their dreams and hopes of how you could live your life to the best of your ability and capacity.

For me, the presence of my father remains like a lamp, glowing over me as I grow and shape my future.

On father’s day, I would like to wish all the single mothers shouldering the responsibilities of their entire families in such absence, and all the siblings, uncles and guardians who have taken on the tremendous job of fatherhood and have become responsible father figures. Even when not physically present, the qualities of some fathers live on and blossom in their families, inspiring others to take on the mantle left behind.

Finally, let us remember to empathise with our fathers, and make sure they know we appreciate them. We do not know how much shared time we are blessed with, particularly in these days of upheaval.

On father’s day, I would like to wish all the single mothers shouldering the responsibilities of their entire families in such absence, and all the siblings, uncles and guardians who have taken on the tremendous job of fatherhood and have become responsible father figures. Even when not physically present, the qualities of some fathers live on and blossom in their families, inspiring others to take on the mantle left behind.

To the world he may just be a father, but to his family he is the world. The value of fatherhood is underrated in our society. The love of a mother and the sacrifices of a father go hand in hand. Fathers are not just sails to take us to the destination, but are guiding lights who hold our hands to make sure we find our way