In many ways, I came to understand the importance of fatherhood through its absence\u2014both in my life and in the lives of others. I came to understand that the hole a man leaves when he abandons his responsibility to his children is one that no government can fill. We can do everything possible to provide good jobs and good schools and safe streets for our kids, but it will never be enough to fully make up the difference. <\/span><\/p>\n That is why we need fathers to step up, to realize that their job does not end at conception; that what makes you a man is not the ability to have a child but the courage to raise one. <\/span><\/p>\n As fathers, we need to be involved in our children\u2019s lives not just when it\u2019s convenient or easy, and not just when they\u2019re doing well\u2014but when it\u2019s difficult and thankless, and they\u2019re struggling. That is when they need us most. <\/span><\/p>\n And it\u2019s not enough to just be physically present. Too often, especially during tough economic times like these, we are emotionally absent: distracted, consumed by what\u2019s happening in our own lives, worried about keeping our jobs and paying our bills, unsure if we\u2019ll be able to give our kids the same opportunities we had. <\/span>Weiterlesen<\/span> \u2026<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.parade.com\/export\/sites\/default\/images\/-v4\/news\/2009\/0621\/spotlight-obama-and-girls.jpg)
<\/a>Der Demokrat rief V\u00e4ter auf, sich mehr Zeit f\u00fcr ihre Kinder zu nehmen. \u201aWir m\u00fcssen den Fernseher ausschalten und beginnen, mit unseren Kinder zu reden und ihnen zuzuh\u00f6ren\u2019. M\u00e4nner m\u00fcssten erkennen, dass \u201aihre Arbeit nicht bei der Zeugung aufh\u00f6rt\u2019.<\/span><\/p>\n