Last month we saluted mothers in recognition of Mother’s Day, this month we turn our attention to Fathers and Father Figures everywhere. Being a father has been the most meaningful and rewarding aspect of my life, hands down. I mentioned last month that I was raised by a powerful, single mother. When I was nine my father left under the pretense of finding work out in California, a few months later he let us know that he was never coming back. My own father’s absence has had a profound impact on my own approach to fatherhood. I had to figure out what it meant to be a good dad and an honorable man from scraps and pieces that I collected over the years. Some from sitcoms, a little from my grandpa and uncle, but mostly I had to make it up as I went along.

When I had my first child at the age of 26 I stumbled into fatherhood trying to “right all the wrongs” that I endured. I tried to be kind, patient, playful, follow through on promises, and above all – be truly present with my kids. I recognize that I am not perfect as a father, but I know that I have been and will continue to be there for my kids and wife whenever they need me. For the past 20 years, we as Americans have been in a “father crisis” of sorts. According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation about one in every three kids across America has no father in the
home. Studies have shown that children with involved fathers demonstrate higher levels of academic achievement, are less likely to engage in risky behavior (like unprotected sex and experimentation with drugs), and tend to have enhanced resiliency with mental health challenges. At Serna Solutions, we believe that mentally healthy and involved fathers play an essential role in building healthy families and communities. We support fathers as they work on themselves so that they can better support their families and end harmful cycles that they may have survived  as children.

This Father’s Day let’s acknowledge and celebrate the impact that fathers have on our lives, and work towards creating a community where every child has the opportunity to grow up with the love, guidance, and support of a father figure.