A few years ago a young father lived across the street from me in Cleveland with his family of 4 boys in a very small 2 bedroom apartment. He worked all the time driving a truck and taking care of his family no mother in sight. He left them $25 every morning for food. One of his sons Amarey the youngest and most confident and outgoing ca…
A few years ago a young father lived across the street from me in Cleveland with his family of 4 boys in a very small 2 bedroom apartment. He worked all the time driving a truck and taking care of his family no mother in sight. He left them $25 every morning for food. One of his sons Amarey the youngest and most confident and outgoing came over to my house all the time to visit and walk my dogs. Eventually they moved away his uncle was shot and killed, not enough money for rent whatever and Amarey promised he would be back “to check up on me”. Five years later, now 19, he and his cousin Christian popped up on my porch. We had an impromptu cookout THEY COOKED and Amarey is headed to Otterbein University on a full football scholarship in the fall. He lives with dad who is now married. His dad kept his boys in the right path always regardless of the hardship for him.
Connie I am so happy to see your post today. As a native Clevelander who grew up straddling the tony suburb of Shaker and the church in the hood that we attended on Kinsman Rd (the now defunct St. Cecilia's), I saw in real time the make or break situations with the families who had no fathers. I had no mother. My mom passed when I was 10 (parents were 36) and my dad was left to raise 3 girls by himself. I used to try to imagine myself as kind of a Nancy Drew, since my dad was an attorney, but life was no mystery novel without a mom, and due to the horrendous hours my father worked I was mostly left to raise myself and help my younger sisters. But even back then I knew I was luckier than most, and my father's expectations of me, although harsh, were the reason I turned out pretty well - educated, faith filled and now married over 30 years with a beautiful family. ("Don't embarrass me" he once famously said, "I will not bail your butt out of Juvie Court"- and that was just an average warning). I know now that he was absolutely terrified to be responsible for the 3 of us, and even had a heart attack at age 45 due to the stress (he lived to 83). My father had the money to put us in boarding school, or hire caregivers, but he didn't. He took full responsibility and expected us to pull our weight. I often have to stop myself from telling my kids the "I walked to school uphill both ways in the snow" stories, but they made me who I am today. Thank God for fathers who step up to the plate. Their reward will be great in Heaven.
Actually....I believe the "boomer generation" (of which I am one) raised children who were coddled just a bit too much and given "things" instead of Godly instruction. The Godly instruction I received was from my Dad, our church AND our schools (public ones where we read the Bible and prayed as well as pledged allegiance to the Flag of the USA each and every school day). With each passing generation, I see more kids growing up like "weeds" without direction, discipline or discretion (of a Godly nature). We are "paying the piper" for this "over"population FALSE gospel - too many kids growing up without ANY father--good, bad or indifferent. It's why the godless governance people are planning "baby pods" where "life is in the pod" and NOT in the "womb"--turns my blood to ice when I read these accounts in "science" articles!!
A very mindful observation, Jon - I'm certain there is a "truth kernel" to it. My parents were from "the greatest generation' and they struggled financally throughout their almost 51 years of marriage. There were other issues involved in their relationship that affect me and my siblings--so much so, that for many years I thought my father was a brutish sort of person. Now, I realize it may have been a mental issue created by his WW II experiences plus living with a weak-minded (but loving) woman who was mentally "off" for 38 of the 51 years they shared as husband and wife. I seem to have become less judgmental as my 'life road' becomes more narrow--perhaps it's compassion mixed with 'wisdom'--I don't quite know for certain.
Connie I think we traded comments well over a year ago - I was so struck by your kind words on Cleveland - known to many only as the "mistake on the lake." It's simultaneously a hard scrabble yet elite area that never seems to get any respect, but I was grateful to be raised there. Our public schools were actually amazing back in the 70s and 80s and you couldn't get a more diverse city anywhere. We did "diversity and inclusion" the right way - by merit, creativity, ingenuity and hard work - not color, religion or sexual preference. I went to elementary school with the O'Jays kids - who became their own R&B sensation later as LeVert - Sean and Gerald Levert. Our public school upbringing included annual field trips to the symphony, the world class museums, the Cleveland Clinic, the botanical gardens, the planetarium... the list goes on. I would ride my bike to my grandma's house and down to Little Italy in the summers to get lemon ice, and had cultural education everywhere I turned. My father, a Catholic, was heartily welcomed at the "J" - the Jewish Community Center where he worked out regularly. No place is perfect, but Cleveland was pretty close.
The beauty and uniqueness of Cleveland is the people who live and died here. The founding fathers buried in Lakeview set a very high standard. CMA, the orchestra (although fading from woke management) the park systems are all to be celebrated but it’s the no nonsense cut the crap attitude of the blue collar population that sticks it out without thinking they are sticking it out. It is our secret MY secret now too.
Sadly the boys were disappointed because I had neither ketchup NOR barbecue sauce. I said all I had was tapenade and they gagged🤮Christian said “Tapenade is the WHITEST THING!” 🤣🤣🤣 it REALLY is
"The Pursuit of Happyness" is, I believe, one of the best movies about the commitment of fatherhood.
In my real, local life, a friend's brother impregnated his girlfriend. She wanted an abortion, and he talked her out of it. They were not interested in marrying each other. She cared for the baby for a couple of years in a shared custody agreement. Then one day, she delivered their son and all his belongings to the dad, saying it was his problem and she wanted nothing more to do with their son or him. The boy is now in his mid-teens, having been raised exclusively by his dad. Dad works hard and runs a tight ship at home, and the boy is doing very well.
A few years ago a young father lived across the street from me in Cleveland with his family of 4 boys in a very small 2 bedroom apartment. He worked all the time driving a truck and taking care of his family no mother in sight. He left them $25 every morning for food. One of his sons Amarey the youngest and most confident and outgoing came over to my house all the time to visit and walk my dogs. Eventually they moved away his uncle was shot and killed, not enough money for rent whatever and Amarey promised he would be back “to check up on me”. Five years later, now 19, he and his cousin Christian popped up on my porch. We had an impromptu cookout THEY COOKED and Amarey is headed to Otterbein University on a full football scholarship in the fall. He lives with dad who is now married. His dad kept his boys in the right path always regardless of the hardship for him.
Connie I am so happy to see your post today. As a native Clevelander who grew up straddling the tony suburb of Shaker and the church in the hood that we attended on Kinsman Rd (the now defunct St. Cecilia's), I saw in real time the make or break situations with the families who had no fathers. I had no mother. My mom passed when I was 10 (parents were 36) and my dad was left to raise 3 girls by himself. I used to try to imagine myself as kind of a Nancy Drew, since my dad was an attorney, but life was no mystery novel without a mom, and due to the horrendous hours my father worked I was mostly left to raise myself and help my younger sisters. But even back then I knew I was luckier than most, and my father's expectations of me, although harsh, were the reason I turned out pretty well - educated, faith filled and now married over 30 years with a beautiful family. ("Don't embarrass me" he once famously said, "I will not bail your butt out of Juvie Court"- and that was just an average warning). I know now that he was absolutely terrified to be responsible for the 3 of us, and even had a heart attack at age 45 due to the stress (he lived to 83). My father had the money to put us in boarding school, or hire caregivers, but he didn't. He took full responsibility and expected us to pull our weight. I often have to stop myself from telling my kids the "I walked to school uphill both ways in the snow" stories, but they made me who I am today. Thank God for fathers who step up to the plate. Their reward will be great in Heaven.
Actually....I believe the "boomer generation" (of which I am one) raised children who were coddled just a bit too much and given "things" instead of Godly instruction. The Godly instruction I received was from my Dad, our church AND our schools (public ones where we read the Bible and prayed as well as pledged allegiance to the Flag of the USA each and every school day). With each passing generation, I see more kids growing up like "weeds" without direction, discipline or discretion (of a Godly nature). We are "paying the piper" for this "over"population FALSE gospel - too many kids growing up without ANY father--good, bad or indifferent. It's why the godless governance people are planning "baby pods" where "life is in the pod" and NOT in the "womb"--turns my blood to ice when I read these accounts in "science" articles!!
I believe WWII significantly impacted the boomer generation more than is acknowledged.
Parents who survived the Depression and a war, and then experienced an economic boom, likely wanted to provide their children with more than they had.
Too few appreciated what they had to survive hardship, is not what they passed along.
A very mindful observation, Jon - I'm certain there is a "truth kernel" to it. My parents were from "the greatest generation' and they struggled financally throughout their almost 51 years of marriage. There were other issues involved in their relationship that affect me and my siblings--so much so, that for many years I thought my father was a brutish sort of person. Now, I realize it may have been a mental issue created by his WW II experiences plus living with a weak-minded (but loving) woman who was mentally "off" for 38 of the 51 years they shared as husband and wife. I seem to have become less judgmental as my 'life road' becomes more narrow--perhaps it's compassion mixed with 'wisdom'--I don't quite know for certain.
Yes, Compassion mixed with wisdom.-- absolutely.
I’m wasn’t born in Cleveland but I was born again there! I think Cleveland is unique a true American treasure
Connie I think we traded comments well over a year ago - I was so struck by your kind words on Cleveland - known to many only as the "mistake on the lake." It's simultaneously a hard scrabble yet elite area that never seems to get any respect, but I was grateful to be raised there. Our public schools were actually amazing back in the 70s and 80s and you couldn't get a more diverse city anywhere. We did "diversity and inclusion" the right way - by merit, creativity, ingenuity and hard work - not color, religion or sexual preference. I went to elementary school with the O'Jays kids - who became their own R&B sensation later as LeVert - Sean and Gerald Levert. Our public school upbringing included annual field trips to the symphony, the world class museums, the Cleveland Clinic, the botanical gardens, the planetarium... the list goes on. I would ride my bike to my grandma's house and down to Little Italy in the summers to get lemon ice, and had cultural education everywhere I turned. My father, a Catholic, was heartily welcomed at the "J" - the Jewish Community Center where he worked out regularly. No place is perfect, but Cleveland was pretty close.
Lovely story.
SUCH a great story!
The beauty and uniqueness of Cleveland is the people who live and died here. The founding fathers buried in Lakeview set a very high standard. CMA, the orchestra (although fading from woke management) the park systems are all to be celebrated but it’s the no nonsense cut the crap attitude of the blue collar population that sticks it out without thinking they are sticking it out. It is our secret MY secret now too.
Bless that man and his sons!!
Great story, thanks for sharing!
Sadly the boys were disappointed because I had neither ketchup NOR barbecue sauce. I said all I had was tapenade and they gagged🤮Christian said “Tapenade is the WHITEST THING!” 🤣🤣🤣 it REALLY is
haha... I really really needed that laugh today as FAther's Day is the saddest of all holidays for me now. THANK YOU!
That’s great…’tapenade’ “are you kidding for a BBQ”, they must have been thinking!😉🤪
🤣it’s the ONLY “sauce” I had
LOL!!!
"The Pursuit of Happyness" is, I believe, one of the best movies about the commitment of fatherhood.
In my real, local life, a friend's brother impregnated his girlfriend. She wanted an abortion, and he talked her out of it. They were not interested in marrying each other. She cared for the baby for a couple of years in a shared custody agreement. Then one day, she delivered their son and all his belongings to the dad, saying it was his problem and she wanted nothing more to do with their son or him. The boy is now in his mid-teens, having been raised exclusively by his dad. Dad works hard and runs a tight ship at home, and the boy is doing very well.
💌
By the way Christian and Amarey are BOTH voting for Trump
What a wonderful sharing - of TRUE LOVE - sacrificial and non-judgmental (just like that of our Lord Jesus Christ).
What a great story…thank you for sharing it. 🙏🏼💗
Beautiful
Like!
LOVE