Grooming With Heather: Wisdom nuggets from local fathers

By The Standard | Jun. 19, 2011

Being a father goes beyond being part of the couple that conceived a child but it involves speaking into the lives of children, be it instruction, affirmation, guidance, teaching or warning. It means providing for one’s children and ensuring that children have the best life has to offer to the best of the father’s ability. It also entails leading the children, by word or works, disciplining the children whenever it is necessary.

I would like to appreciate every man who plays or has played this role to his biological, adopted, spiritual, school or any other children out there. I acknowledge that this is not an easy task that has been set before you but to those who have stepped into the shoes of fatherhood, we honour you and to those who may have given fatherhood their best shot, it is never too late to give it your all.

I asked a few of my friends to tell me some of the wisdom nuggets that have been handed down to them by their fathers. The fathers of some are deceased while the fathers of others are still living. Here a few simple yet profound lessons:

Wisdom from Marisa’s father: Family comes firstNothing is more important than family, family should come first. Blood is thicker than water. One family member’s problem also becomes the problem of the rest of the family members. Family looks out for each other and has each other’s interests at heart. Whatever you work at in life, do not forget to leave a legacy for your children.

Wisdom from Amanda’s father: Keep things simpleSee the simplicity in any situation or keep things simple. Quite often, if I was puzzled by something or asked him for advice, he always seemed to break it down into its simplest form and then everything would make sense. Sometimes we make everything more complicated than it needs to be.

Wisdom from Simukirai’s father: Life is what you make itIf you do not go after what you want in life you will not get it. No one ever got what they wanted by waiting for it to come to them. You have to pursue it, whatever it is.

Wisdom from Kerry’s father: Do not let anyone hold you backYou are the master of your own destiny. Good things do not come to those who wait but to those who go and get them. A hard day’s work pays off in the end. There is a difference between need and want, needs are more important than our wants.

Wisdom from Annabell’s father: Be the best version of yourselfHe taught me to only compare myself to myself. He would always say that all he wanted was for me to do my best so it was not about being better than the next kid, it was about making sure I was making the best effort I could make. In the end I would do well because I always wanted to improve myself.

Keep Reading

Wisdom from Plaxedes’s father: Set yourself apartIf you do what everyone else is doing, you will only end up being average but if you do more than what everyone else is doing, be it an extra hour of preparation, you will be better than average and maybe even the best at what you do.

Wisdom from Kuda’s father: Being a good businessmanIn order to be a good businessman you need to understand the market trends. One also needs to be well-read. Happy Father’s Day to all the men out there who are biological, adopted or spiritual fathers. Thank you for the investments you make in our lives, be they financial, advisory, disciplinary and all the rest. We love you.

Words of wisdom from Heather’s father

Mind your own business, live within your means and do not tempt a man: My dad always tells me to this day to mind my own business and not feel pressured by what my peers are doing or the lifestyles they are living because not all of them may be earning an honest living.

Live within your means: Keeping up with the Joneses will only result in loss of your peace of mind because most times you will end up making your money through unethical means and the prison cells will be waiting for you. Rome was not built in a day.

Concerning marriage: My father gave a very interesting yet wise piece of advice. This one goes out to all the ladies’ that threaten to leave their husbands whenever they have an argument, particularly the ones who actually pack their bags and move out temporarily.

My father says “do not tempt a man like that because one day he may tell you he had been looking for a way to let you go but now you have made it easy for him. So he will tell you to stay wherever you are. Every marriage has its up and downs but do not move out each time you argue. Stay put and resolve it.