Fatherless Generation

We've all been told that we are seeing a Fatherless Generation grow up. This week I had an eye opening experience to just how "starving" they are for a male role model in their lives. The reality of a "Fatherless Generation" hit me in the face at school this week.

This picture is of Nigiel. Nigiel is being raised by a single mom. Dad is in prison for dealing drugs and Nigiel takes the man's role in his home for his Mom and his two sisters. He takes it serious. You can't see it in the picture below, but the string around his neck is attached to a picture of his family that he carries proudly. He is never in class without it. Nigiel is what most people, who have no clue, would call a 'street kid'. This past week I had an awesome experience with him that showed me just how much he craves male attention along with all his other male peers.

Third period is the most sacred time of my day- "Planning Period!" No children. No one yelling my name or asking me a question immediately after I closed my mouth from giving the answer they so desperately need me to repeat. I could go on and on about how wonderful it is, but that has nothing to do with the current story... John and I typically talk during my 3rd period. On Monday we were closing out our conversation and a student entered my room early. He realized I was talking to "MR. Berry", as they call him, and asked for the phone.That can be pretty scary, but he was very mature and knew exactly what he wanted. He was looking for a lunch date! He asked John when he planned to come to the school and how soon he could come and eat lunch with him. He and John continued their conversation and Nigiel hung up the phone....

His first response was... "Mrs. Berry, he sounds BIG! I'm not acting up in your class no more!"..all I could do was laugh. He and John had set a date for Friday.

The rest of the week Nigiel was on cloud 9! He could hardly wait to eat lunch with some man he had never even met before. Not only did the buzz continue from Nigiel, but many of his closest friends began asking if they could sit with Mr. Berry at lunch too.

John showed up on Friday and just the presence of a male in my classroom changed the entire feeling. He immediately began speaking to the kids, not knowing which ones are a pain in my neck daily or sweet angelic voices in my ear. It was amazing to see their responses.

Lunch was great and Nigiel was so happy. He barley ate his lunch because he was so excited about his guest.

Justin pulled me over to his table during lunch. Here's what our conversation sounded like:

"Mrs. Berry is that your husband?"

"Yep!"

"When can I get an appointment with him for lunch?"..

The buzz of John's visit hasn't stopped. I wish he could come every week, but I just can't expect that of him, nor can he squeeze it into his busy schedule every week. But there are thousands of men in this town that could give away 30 min. a week, or even a month to some boys who could seriously be impacted by their time.