We can do this

Guys, we can do this. 

We can raise our sons to be good men. I feel it’s impossible sometimes, like I will be the one to drop the ball and dishonor my lineage. Like the world is just too crazy and I can’t counteract its influence.  

Like there are just too many pressures or moments I can’t control. That I may let him down and that’s terrifying. But we can do this guys. We can be the fathers our sons need.  

And we matter. We can’t believe that we’re supplemental figures in our sons’ lives, and that we’re only nice to haves. Mothers are essential and so are we.  

That is a weighty responsibility, because it means we can’t let ourselves off the hook. But we can do this.  

We can show them what it means to be honest. We can show the how to make sacrifices. We can show them how to pray and apologize. We can do this.  

We can show them how to treat their partners, friends, and family with respect. We can show them how to love. We can show them how to listen and persist through suffering. We can show them how to express their deepest feelings.  

We can do this.  

I don’t offer advice or wisdom. Just a word, and the affirmation that we’re in this together.  

We can do this fellas. We can raise our sons to be good men.