VIDEO: Joys and challenges of fatherhood discussed at All Woman roundtable
THE joys and challenges of fatherhood took centre stage Friday, as nine devoted and dedicated Jamaican dads shared their experiences with All Woman.
Speaking in a roundtable discussion that was broadcast in cyberspace ahead of Father’s Day yesterday, the men gave their perspectives on the nuanced issues surrounding parenting, relationships and masculinity.
Moderating the discussion was Garth Williams, communications specialist who fathers two children. Williams led in a rich, bass-heavy discussion on how men can be supportive fathers even before their children are born, and until they become adults.
Discussing the role men play during pregnancy and the postpartum period for women was consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr Jordan Hardie, who fathers three-year-old Ysabel.
Reggae revival artiste and father of two Jesse Royal joined the conversion from Miami via Zoom to share his perspective as a girl-dad, and how men can be emotionally and present for their families, even when they have to be physically absent. The entertainer sings about this and other sacrifices that fathers often have to make while fulfilling their parental obligations in the song Home from his recently released Royal album.
Attorney Alexander Shaw advised the panel of the legal rights and responsibilities of fathers, and gave examples and tips for men to navigate issues that may arise regarding paternity, child support and maintenance.
Operations manager and church first elder David Goodlitt, and male youth and adolescence coach Jayson Downer, enriched the conversation with their wealth of experience in counselling and working with boys and young men. They broadened the dialogue to include how several socio-economic issues affect men’s perceptions of their roles as fathers.
In a pre-recorded interview, performer and entrepreneur Christopher ‘Johnny’ Daley spoke about the importance of emotional expression in fatherhood, and the impact that it has on children’s development. ‘Johnny’ also shared techniques that helped him as he navigated the teenage years with his now adult son, and how he is handling the task with his two younger children.
Senior communications strategist Major Basil Jarrett also joined the conversation to speak about building character and integrity, while Scotiabank-Constant Spring Financial Centre manager Peter Mohan skilfully addressed questions about financial security, and how fathers can go about building generational wealth for their families.
The Father’s Day special is available for viewing on all Jamaica Observer media platforms.
Related Video: All Woman Father’s Day Round Table Talk
