Happy Father's Day. If You Deserve It.

It is Father's Day. This is the day that people give cards that generally have one of two themes. There are the cards that say, essentially, I am so glad that you were always there for me - what a great dad. And there are those that say I never tell you enough how much I love you because you are such a great dad. And everyone is writing about those two themes today. So I won't.

I want to address the other dads. The ones that resent their children because they were tricked into having a child. Because the baby-momma wants child support to spend on booze and a nicer wardrobe. The ones that write the checks as a guilt payment to avoid having the responsibity of fatherhood. Any of the criticisms you have as to the old lady may be valid. She may have duped you. She may just want your money so she can have more for herself. She may want you to have visitation as free babysitting because she feels burdened by a child, too. None of it matters.

If you don't see your child but a few times per year, if at all. If you aren't at the special occassions, at least. If you don't see nearly every game/recital/ceremony your child is in. If you are one of these Dads, get over yourself. This post isn't about paying the child support. This post isn't about how you ended up a father. This is about the fact that you were a sperm donor, and now you need to be a father. That child didn't cause your heartache.

If this is the one of the few days a year, if that, in which you speak with your child, then don't wait for that child's call. Get off your sorry ass, pick up the phone, and call your child and tell them that you are sorry. And then follow through. It is never too late to get started living a proper life. But every day you wait, you do an injustice to your child.

A child needs a father. Get busy.