My middle son says that Valentines Day is for couples so he is expempt from this celebration because he is single. I say that Valentines Day is a day to celebrate love among our family. How do we show our children we love them? Do they know we love them? Our expressions of love come in many ways. I never thought that I would be a father who could afford to pay for things for my adult children just because I love them not cause they asked me too. I am ...so blessed to be in a position ... Read More>>

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I lost my father at 16 years old. It is a loss that I have felt for years especially as I raised my own sons. What me and my sons have in common is that all of our fathers were gone in one way or another. Mine because he refused to take better care of himself. If he had, he would have been here longer. Not only should we take care of our health so we can watch our children and grandchildren grow but to set a good example for our sons, future Fa...thers. Traditionally as Hispanics we ... Read More>>

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 Let's face it. There will always be the argument about keeping Christ in Christmas and for me that's where it started. I was raised Catholic so there were Posadas and rosaries and the cradling of the Baby Jesus at Christmas time. Santa was something I had heard of at school and as a Mexican in a white neighborhood I would hang a stocking but didn't hold out a lot of hope that the big guy would ever stop by my house on Christmas eve. And he didn't. Instead w...e filed into Southside Community Center like cattle on ... Read More>>

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I spent a few days in bed while I had pneumonia. I spent many hours in the land of "Reality" TV. The Real Housewives of the OC, Intervention, the Voice. How Real is Reality? If my life was a Reality show the last 12 years would be filled with many things we would not want the world to know. We would have to accept the pains of our paths. There would be tough losses, bouts with the law, funerals, depression, anxiety, failures, feeling alone, feeling lo...st even though everyone around has made you a part of this family. ... Read More>>

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A Letter from my middle son Aaron to me, His 2nd father) Happy Father's Day I know this isn't as valuable as any gift I could get you but its a start. Just wanted to say thank you for being such a wonderful father to me over the years and accepting me as your own. I know you imagined parenting me being a lot easier than it actually was. But the fact that you stuck by my side through it all makes you the best person/father in the world. I know I have come along way from day o...<span ... Read More>>

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I am a single father. My son's mother passed when he was five years old. A huge loss that can never be erased and a woman that can never be replaced especially not by me, a man. There are many men who claim they are mothers and fathers and women who will claim that are moms and dads. The truth is that there are very special things brought to the role of Mom that a man will never bring. Things uniquely theirs. The smell, the touch the heart of a woman, a Mom. I los...t my Mom New ... Read More>>

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Children can be traumatized by many things such as abuse, neglect, death, drug addiction, alcoholism, violence and sex in movies, disturbing images and videos online. These things can do a number on a child's life when they are not able to work through it with our support. It is our job as a father to be a nurturing support, especially when we feel our kids should just suck it up and deal with it. It could be anything from a terminal illness of a relative to something ...like big storms. We might forget that children are constantly ... Read More>>

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I lost my mother on New Years Day, very unexpectedly. First the shock and then the grief. As a father I struggled with what my reactions should be and whether or not I had the strength to make it through such a challenging time and fully support my son in his grieving. What I know is I felt extreme pain and sorrow. I needed to express it and at the same time I felt I should try to be a pillar of strength for my son. As fathers, we may have been raised to believe that we ...should ... Read More>>

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Being a first teacher, first mentor, first nurturer Will help build men that can be caring, compassionate and confident. I am proud of my sons for what they have accomplished so far after challenging beginnings. They have a great capacity to love others and have a giving spirit♡ &nbsp; ... Read More>>

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Lessons from my 2nd Dad "I was only 7 and half when I met my 2nd Dad. He was intimidating and tall. He was a selfless man, he was a well-known man in a good way. I learned these things from him: I learned not to act on impulse, that grudges are time consuming and a waste of time and that growing is a part of life..." Aaron (22 years old) &nbsp; ... Read More>>

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Happy Thanksgiving! Counting my blessings today and here are my top 3♡ &nbsp; ... Read More>>

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All of the challenges, no matter how terrifying and frustrating things have gotten are worth it with a tribute like this!♡ &nbsp; ... Read More>>

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One of the best things about being a father is receiving small gifts from my children. I loved it when I received a Mother's Day poem from Tyler and a reading award that John earned for reading all the Texas Bluebonnet books but my all-time favorite was the shirt I got for Christmas from Aaron. ♡ because if it's on a t-shirt it has to be true! &nbsp; ... Read More>>

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I can remember when I held my seven and a half year old&nbsp;as he trembled before 2nd grade. We toured the school with the principal and I did not know how to help him relax and just breathe. I was new to this too! Fast forward to next week, my son starts 10th grade, how did we get here. There were artwork, projects , field trips, tears, laughter&nbsp;and calls from the principal and BAM! he grew up, got a job and started shaving! My worries are different but very real. I worried that he would not make friends, now I worry about ... Read More>>

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I am amazed that I have made it this far! My son turned 16, I am not dead, or in jail for murder. People say that the worst is yet to come. Being a father has been a challenge and a great learning experience. As I approach 40 years old here is the&nbsp; father lessons that I have learned: 1. Listen even when you don't know what is being said 2. Play even when your not having fun 3. Eat even though they cooked 4. Laugh even when it's not funny 5. It's thier hair 6. Sometimes you have to bite your tongue til it bleeds 7. ... Read More>>

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It seems that life is about breathing. When you are born you take your first breath, when you learn to swim , you hold you breath, when you fall in love your breath is taken away , when you are angry you take deep breaths and lastly when you die you are breathless.I don't remember being born but I do remember I walked into this life through the smoke that a lawnmower makes when it is turned on over a pile of dirt. When i was younger I would make believe that i was entering another dimension, a new world ... Read More>>

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I received a phone call on september 18 while I was at work. The caller wanted to let me know that my "grandson" was born at 9:52am and weighed in at a whopping 6lbs 1oz.I adopted my son almost 8 years ago and without wanting to at the time I adopted his teenage sister as well. It wasn't thru the court system but I vowed to keep them connected. Well, she has given birth to a son and by my definiton my grandson.There is a certain power in that little life. It has made me more than a man, a ... Read More>>

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I took a job contracting with MHMR as a mentor. I needed money to pay the bills while i support my non-profit dream. It's summer and my son is at home with endless hours of playing games on his PS2, eating, sleeping and... being alone. I get caught up in the same rat race that everyone does, work! work! work!, our lives are ruled by so much to do and so little time. Well i am giving my time to other people's children right now. I am riding trains, playing tag, going to movies and eating ice cream (oops! I ... Read More>>

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My son lost his mother when he was 5 years old. He doesn't remember much about it. He grieves the loss everyday of his life as his friends speak of their mothers and as mother's days come and go. I lost my father when I was sixteen and it wasn't until I was in my 30's that I came to fully appreciate how great of a loss that was. He was only 55 years old.At the time of my father's death I met a man who filled a void for me. He stepped in for a brief moment and did ... Read More>>

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