Name: Tiran Jackson City: Woodstock | Instagram: @tiranjacksonofficial

What does being a father mean to you?

To me, being a father means that you are the singular, most important male figure in the life of a child you are responsible for. This goes from being an example and role model to them, knowing that you are the one they will look up to, learn from, and grow with. As a father of boys, I know that I will be the person they will likely try to emulate, and it is up to me to lead by example. It means that I will teach them how to live and explore this world and show them love and compassion in ways no other person will ever be able to. I take it as my responsibility to not only provide and care for but develop that closeness and bond, showing them how a man should be and handle his responsibility.

What things did you take from your experience growing up into your own fatherhood journey?

Have you had any obstacles on your fatherhood journey?

I had the unenviable responsibility of having to call my son from another country and inform him that while my former wife and I were on vacation, we had a tragic accident, resulting in the death of his mother. Having to break that news to him and hearing the pain that I heard from him as he was processing this was heartbreaking. Coming back to my son after that, physically and emotionally broken, and still being a father to him and knowing that I was now a single parent was challenging. Our relationship changed, and I had to learn to nurture him differently than I did before the accident. I found myself learning to console him because he was struggling and in denial in many ways about the fact that she was no longer here. He was emotionally fragile, not just from the passing of his mother but also had to observe me in a weakened state physically and emotionally, and he struggled to process it. However, it led to us addressing our mental health challenges and realizing how strong and resilient we were.

What advice would you give others new on their fatherhood journey?

I would tell any man new on their fatherhood journey to cherish his responsibility. Know that you’ve been granted the joy of having a part of you carry on in this world and that you must make sure that you are raising your children to grow into respectable young adults one day. Be with them every step of the way and provide support and love beyond what you’ve given to this point in your life. The joys that come with this responsibility are beyond measure.

If you could write a quick letter to your father, starting with “Dear Father,” what would you say?

Dear Father, I know that you are no longer here and looking down on me, but I hope you’re proud of the man I’ve become. I’ve learned the ways of the world and how to be there and take care of my family and myself. Even though life has taken me in a different direction than I intended, I still stand here, strong and sure of myself in the steps I take to move forward. I thank you for being there for me in the times that you were and for teaching me lessons, either intentionally or not, that have molded me to be a resilient man, able to overcome any obstacle and to know to be there for my boys in ways that I know that I needed to be. Love, Tiran

List 5 fathers you cosign. (Add their IG names)

Josh Fekete (@writerjfek) Roy Dawson (@1_halfmanhalfamazin) Revis McClairen (@revisvmccliren) Scotty Hendricks (@mrhendricksjr) Russell Elam (@themtgpilot)

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