Mothers Urged to Reach Out to Children’s Fathers

Single mothers are being urged to reach out to the fathers of their children, to help in the nurturing of their offspring.
“My highest regard to the mothers playing a dual role, but guess what mothers, we cannot train boys to be men”, said Public Relations Officer for the Ministry of Education’s Region 6, Yvette Dennis.
“We’ve got to put our own feelings aside… set aside his negligence, set aside his unwillingness to provide for the child financially. Put at the forefront that child’s pride and joy when he stands with his peers and says, ‘a mi fada, a fi mi fada,” Ms. Dennis stated as she addressed a recent parenting forum held in Old Harbour.
She said that the Ministry has recognised that one of the factors contributing to poor academic performance and behavioural problems among children, particularly teenage boys, is the absence of fathers, not only from the homes, but from the lives of these children.
Responding to some of the mothers, who said they had proudly raised their children on their own, and did not need the input of the fathers, Ms. Dennis encouraged them to set the differences aside, and place the children’s interest at the forefront, as they were the ones who had the most to lose.
Guidance Counsellor of the Marlie Mount Primary and Infant School in St. Catherine, Calvin Harris, in his contribution, noted that it takes the concerted effort of both parents to effectively raise children.
“The role of the father is totally different from that of the mother and no matter how you try, there are certain things that you cannot fulfill as a mother. You cannot mother and father a child at the same time. It takes two parents to grow them, and if you are going to grow them up properly, you know some of them need motivation, some of them need to be propelled to go forward, and it’s always advisable to get the father involved,” he advised.
The forum was organised by the Ministry of Education’s Region 6 as part of activities to mark Parent Month in November, under the theme: Parenting, Get it Right From the Start.