Name: Brandon Thompson | City: Houston TX | IG: @Bthomps0n_

What does being a father mean to you?

Being a father to me is learning, growing as a human being while watching your little human grow. The experience is unexplainable. Everyday my daughter is teaching me something. I’ve become more compassionate, more attentive, & more affectionate. Being a father is helping change the world because when you raise your child the right way you’re making their environment a better place also.

Describe your experience with your father growing up and how that impacted you today.

My experience with my father was a love/hate relationship. My father died when I was 10
Years old and I cried so hard because I felt that I didn’t know him. My father and mother split when I was 4 years old. So his responsibility started to decline and can remember the best Christmas I had was when he bought me the power ranger collection. But as far as being a father I don’t really know what was going on. There were times I was waiting for him on my grandmothers steps and he wouldn’t show. I would cry but move forward. The time we spent was valuable because he put a basketball in my hand. I loved going to church with him he was a singer. Like I stated it was a love and hate relationship. But I respected him for way he did.

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

One thing I took was promises. I will not a promise that I won’t keep to my baby girl. I feel that pinky promises are sacred and a build up of the trust someone has in you and for you. I grew up understanding that. I would rather swear to god than to break a pinky promise. When I tell my daughter “I promise” I’m GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN BY ANY MEANS. Growing up there were a lot of broken promises and that effected my trust in people. I won’t let that happen to my daughter.

Have you had any obstacles on your fatherhood journey?

I’m not ashamed to admit that earlier in the stages of Sapphire’s life I made very selfish decisions toward my child’s mother and my daughter and it cost me a lot. At one point I thought that I wouldn’t be able to see her because I made a very bad choice and didn’t think about my daughter in the process. One thing I will always say is that we’re not together but she’s always been unselfish and selfless when it came to making the big choices. We both communicate effectively and create a loving environment for our daughter. She is very courages and very outgoing and I appreciate her to the fullest because she lets me raise my daughter. She has helped me out tremendously and I will always look out for her. I’m blessed to have her as the mother of my child and our co parenting is immaculate.

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

Advice I would give is to take time and learn your seed. It’s a beautiful experience, As i stated before I have learned so much from my daughter. They will teach you things you didn’t know about yourself. Be patient they are new to this universe and are learning and experimenting. They will make 2 million mistakes but it’s up to you to guide them. Lastly I’ll say is if there was a stigma or generational curse you are aware of break it for your children let them grow fruitfully and abundantly.

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

Dear Father, I know you’re in heaven looking down on me and your beautiful granddaughter. As I have grown Into a man I understand that life is very hard even without a child. So I know that when you had me and you and mom split life became harder and I understand. For every mistake you made I will avoid because it was your learning experience. Through things of that nature I love you for trying your best that is beauty of life me knowing you tried your best.

Name some other fathers you cosign.

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