Name: Brandon Burden | City: Unadilla | IG: @Mrdrpresident
What does being a father mean to you?
It means becoming a better person, a better, provider, a better protector, a better leader and mostly just a better overall man. It simply forces life to calm down. It’s by far the greatest happening that’s ever happened to me and I love the feeling I could never return to the old me nor would I want to.
Describe your experience with your father growing up and how that impacted you today.
Being a father is like facing a whole new level of jumangi at times lol. You never know what the next level holds. I love the spontaneousness though. It’s like watching myself and another person’s more innocent self just grow and intertwine with the multiple personalities and characteristics of his parents. Some traits you can’t help that you instill in the child simply because genetics shall take its course naturally claiming it’s percentage in the child. Children are like sponges they watch you so close and admire you in so many ways that you never knew until you see their personality start to come alive. You don’t realize how much they just love to pieces until you leave them for work and they cry their eyes out wanting you to stay or the joy of them running and jumping up to your arms as you return. All days aren’t so good, but they’re always worth it. Memories are everything, but living in the moment is even better. Kids are like the “second chance” you so whatever mistakes you made it’s like you gotta choose which ones to protect them from that could cause detrimental damage. You’ll struggle because it’s your life experience and knowledge vs. their freshly new life and you’re going to want them to walk in such a straight line not only realizing that too could effect them badly in a way by not letting them live and become their own person making their own mistakes they must learn from.
What things did you take from your experience growing up into your own fatherhood journey?
I’ve learned that you must choose wisely when creating life with another person. You should always be on one accord when trying to raise this special bundle of innocence and joy. It’s nothing wrong with doing things differently as long as it’s for the greater good and well being of the child. Always be someone the child can admire. Don’t chastise and criticize them so much to the point that it damages their ability to express and just be creative In their own way. Allow them to grow.
Have you had any obstacles on your fatherhood journey? If so, explain.
The mother of my children and I were fairly young and still figuring out life so bringing in a new life was the biggest challenge thus far especially just exiting high school. We split after graduation and I didn’t realize she was pregnant until I was I college for a few months. I was on a full athletic and academic scholarship to college. I got the new mid basketball season and I just quit school, never telling anyone why. I just knew I had to be a man, come home, and take care of what was mine. I got back in school later to fulfill what I started out to be which is a software engineer. Life works so weird because my child was my motivation to do so because I hated school lol
What advice would you give others new on their fatherhood journey?
Just be patient, and open minded. Regardless of how narrow the opening is, just walk through it’s fitted just for you and yours.
If you wanted to write a quick letter to your father, starting with “Dear Father,” what would you say?
Dear Father, Thank you for the experience and further more the opportunity to become greater and to lead others to do the same as they spread their wings
