The Father Paradigm

A father can be a guiding light, a hero, or a nemesis

Cover © 2022 by Glenda Clemens

A loving father is a dream for every child. Not every father is loving.

Fran’s father relentlessly abused her throughout her childhood. Yet he was seen within the communities in which they lived as a holy man. Spare the rod and spoil the child was his favorite sermon.

Thousands of miles away Laura gave birth to a bi-racial child. Her father nearly killed her and her child in his bigotry.

Where were the mothers who bore these children who were so violently abused by their fathers? Some of the mothers tried but were unable to stand up for their children and still be alive themselves.

Can love be the balm that helps these women find themselves? Maybe for some, but not for everyone. And certainly, jumping out of the frying pan into the fire will not help any woman. Love comes in all shapes and sizes including horses, dogs, cats, and emotionally brilliant children.

Can men who had loving examples of fatherhood be the ones to support these women? It requires not only the men but the women who love them to support their community. Learning this lesson isn’t as easy for some as for others.

Is love enough to lift the sorrow and grief? Love is only the beginning.