Name: Gladimir Juste | City: Brooklyn NY | IG: @Omg_ItsGlad

What does being a father mean to you?

What being a father means to me, is being a teacher, provider, protect as well as supporter. It’s unlocking the love inside you didn’t even know you had in your heart. I have a 10yr old princess who shows what unconditional love means.

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

I never really had any experiences with my father. He left when I was 2yrs old. Surprisingly I remember the last day my father left ( telling me he’s coming while handing me $2) but he never came back. I never realized how much it affected me and my life making decisions until my 20s Just from one man disappearing from his responsibilities.

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

See the although my father wasn’t in my life he still taught me a valuable lesson about being a father. Father hood isn’t for everyone. No one is ever really ready for father/parenthood. It’s realizing that being a father isn’t about how many kids you can have but instead how many can you raise to better than you ever were with love and support.

Have you had any obstacles on your fatherhood journey?

I’m not rich, I don’t have house, lost my car and due the whats going on, I list my job imma single dad. Through all these obstacles, still I can take a break from being a father no matter. It is pleasure to be able to create another human being that you can unconditionally love without any force or push.

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

Being a father is nerve wrecking, sometimes scary because of what you don’t know as of yet, but it can also be fun, amazing, memorable, life changing and motivating. So expect the unexpected and never give up no matter hard it may seem. It gets easier as time passes. But the work never stops!

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

Thank you dad! Honestly saying the word dad/father when pertaining to me seems very weird saying/typing. However it is because of you that I knew I would sacrifice everything for my daughter because I never wanted her to feel what felt growing up or question if your mother friends were your dad/father because they came when you didn’t. So thank you sir. Because of you I know what I want to be and what I will never be.

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