BY MICHAEL GOODPASTER
Here’s a short “soap box” rant topic that’s been in my head for a while. Over the past few months a certain hatred inside me has been showing it’s ugly face. I’ve really started to notice and hate deadbeat dads these days. It’s not like I was ever a fan of it or ever supported someone being a deadbeat, but it’s just becoming more apparent in the world. I don’t know why it started to really “irk” me. On a personal level, there has been nothing to really trigger it. I’m thankful for having two parents who have always been present. I do, however, know of many cases were shit just doesn’t measure up.
Maybe I’m just getting older and Jebus-forbid more “mature”, but it’s pretty sickening. I’m not “Mr. Maturity” in the LEAST bit. I’m far from it, but I’m also not a parent. If you have a kid, it’s a game changer. Your responsibilities change, or at least should. You don’t get to be a brat anymore. You don’t get to be as self-serving. You have to step up and provide for that child. After the kid is taken care of, do whatever you want. The problem is that people are doing whatever they want and not giving a real shit about the kid. It’s easy to claim it, but the proof is in the actions.
It’s not even that the person has to be there 24/7. Some relationships don’t work out. That doesn’t negate the financial responsibility. That doesn’t change the fact that time needs to be spent and your influence needs to be part of the kid’s life. And yeah, times are tough but shitty jobs are still out there and if you want to step up enough you’ll take it to do what you have to do. But even with the idea of getting a good job being hard, that doesn’t mean the time and influence can’t be there.
I know it’s easy to say “deadbeat dad”, but there are tons of “deadbeat moms” out there too. There is really no excuse. How can you respect or care for someone who doesn’t even have it in them to take care of their own?
|
