Ο πρόεδρος Ομπάμα για το ρόλο του πατέρα

Και πάλι από τις Η.Π.Α. και με αφορμή την ημέρα του Πατέρα, ο αμερικανός πρόεδρος των Η.Π.Α. απευθύνεται στους άνδρες επισημαίνοντας τη σημασία του ρόλου του πατέρα.

(...) We all know the difference that a responsible, committed father like those five gentlemen can make in the life of a child. Fathers are our first teachers and coaches. They’re our mentors and they're our role models. They set an example of success and they push us to succeed; encourage us when we’re struggling; and they love us even when we disappoint them, and they stand by us when nobody else will.

And when fathers are absent -- when they abandon their responsibilities to their children -- we know the damage that that does to our families. Some of you know the statistics: Children who grow up without fathers are more likely to drop out of school and wind up in prison. They’re more likely to have substance abuse problems, run away from home, and become teenage parents themselves.

Από το κείμενο ξεχωρίζω μερικά σημεία, ένα από αυτά είναι η απάντηση του Ομπάμα στην ερώτηση για το πως αισθάνθηκε την πρώτη φορά που έγινε πατέρας. Θα μπορούσε να είναι η απάντηση που θα δίναμε πολλοί από εμάς τους πατεράδες όταν αντικρύσαμε για πρώτη φορά το πρώτο μας παιδί:

Mr. President, I was wondering how you felt when you first became a father.

THE PRESIDENT: Well, let me tell you the story of me -- first of all, Malia was born on the Fourth of July. And every first father has this memory of you're waiting and you're waiting, and then suddenly Michelle woke me up at around 3:00- 4:00 a.m., and I was sleepy, and she says, "Hey, buster, I think this may be happening." And you jump out -- it was like a movie. I was jumping out of my bed and looking for my shoes and the bag.

And things went fairly smoothly. But the first time you see that child, and bringing her home, driving really slow -- (laughter) -- in that little car seat -- and then that night, knowing that there was this new life inside your house in a little bassinet, and remembering to check on them every five minutes to make sure they're still breathing -- (laughter) -- and then feeling them lying on your chest when you've fed them and they're falling asleep -- and you knew at that moment something had -- if you're not a father yet, people say and you don't believe, which is, at that moment, you realize you will do anything for that child. There's nothing you wouldn't do for them -- in a heartbeat.