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Monday, June 20, 2011

Daddy Dear

I finally watched an episode of Braxton Family Values the other night and quite honestly I got more than I bargained for. While I typically shy away from a lot of reality TV, this was by far the best one I’ve seen yet. This particular episode focused on the siblings getting together in their hometown to have a family meal with their father. Though I don’t know the details of their relationship, I was drawn to keep watching as the sisters’ anticipation grew. In all, these successful, beautiful, independent and GROWN women were excited about spending time with their “daddy”. Despite the fact that I don’t have that type of connection with my biological father, it was heartwarming to see the vulnerability in those women.

As the sisters, their mother, and their one brother sat down to the meal, various topics were discussed from Toni’s decision on posing for Playboy to the shift in the family dynamic over the years but as time went on, I noticed that “daddy” hadn’t shown up yet and I wasn’t alone. 30 minutes passed, then 1 hour and so on. After several attempts to contact him, to no avail, the siblings realize it’s not going to happen and they head back to the airport and to their own lives obviously devastated and heartbroken. As they wait to depart it appears I’m no longer watching the successful Braxton sisters, I’m now watching the heartbroken little girls crying, being consoled by their ever present mom and one another and I was hurt.

This scene was so profound because it speaks volumes to the importance of Fathers in our lives. See, it doesn’t matter, how successful you are, how much money you have or even how old you are, every little girl desires their father’s love, attention, and acceptance. Their heartbreak at the age of 40 is no different than the one experienced by the little girl of 5 or even 10 years old when she realizes Daddy isn’t coming today. Parents, especially fathers, need to be more conscious of the effects their actions have on their daughters. The absence of the father in a young girl’s life shapes her opinion of men as she enters into adulthood and ultimately plays a role in her social development and self esteem. While these ladies are all grown up with families of their own, the presence of their father could further validate their inner strength thus strengthening the entire extended family as well.