"In our society leaving baby with Daddy is just one step above leaving the kids to be raised by wolves or apes." That's a quote by Al Roker, the lovable weatherman from numerous television programs. Given that weathermen are wrong just as often as they are right, I am going to go out on a limb and say he was wrong with his above quote...(just like the weather!) I'm sure Al was just trying to be funny with his quote above, but for me, it hits close to home. You see, my wife became ill when she was pregnant with our second child, and never came home. I brought Ashleigh home at 4 days old and raised her and her then seven year old sister since then. After three years, my Mom moved in to help me with the girls. My father died in the interim, and her moving in worked best for the both of us. Six years after bringing her home, Ashleigh is doing great! Maddie is doing well also. Unless you asked them, I don't think anyone would be able to tell that either of my girls did not have a Mom living at home.
My girls are sweet and feminine... although Maddie can likely hit harder than Al (she is a second-degree black belt) and probably takes a punch better too. Ashleigh is a purple belt and the highest rank in her little ninjas class. Part of being a good father is making sure that my girls are protected whether I am there or not. Training both of my girls in the martial arts is one way I am making sure that they at least have a chance to protect themselves if the need ever arises. In Al's defense, there are some men who should not be left home with the children. Indeed, Al or his father could be these very people! Some people, when they see me with my girls, assume that I am watching them because "Mom" is busy. It's even worse on the weekends...some people think that it is my weekend to have the kids. Sigh! I let people think what they want. I know. And my daughters know that I do my best to raise them properly. AND THAT I AM ALWAYS THERE FOR THEM! If others want to think that I am a part-time Dad like their husband or own father...that is up to them. As for Al, he can say what he pleases. I rarely heed his advice about the weather... and that is what he is paid to do. My guess is that the quote above is less accurate than one of his weather reports. He has about a 50% chance of getting the weather right...it is either going to rain or it isn't. I would think that the accuracy of his quote is maybe a direct hit for less than 10% of the population. Way to go Al!
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