MEET THE EDWARDS FAMILY

There's a list called 100 Ways to be a Better Father, from which we picked our favorite "10" to share with you below. We challenge all dads to check out the complete list for themselves and select their favorites.

1.  Be present with your children.

2.  Say I love you. A lot.

3.  Heap lavish amounts of praise on your kids.

4.  Focus on the positive when speaking to your children.

5.  Don’t be afraid to show your emotions.

6.  Listen to your kids with all of your attention.

7.  Hold your kids accountable for their actions and words.

8.  Read out loud to your children.

9.  Forgive your dad for any grudges you hold against him.

10. Make amends when you’re wrong or grumpy or harsh with your kids.

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Get the full list—100 Ways to be a Better Father: https://naturalpapa.com/fatherhood/100-ways-to-be-a-better-father/

Dads are often thought of as one or more of  the following: absentee, affectionate, compassionate, cool, geek, handyman, involved, loveable, nurturing, overbearing, playful, proud, provider, responsible, superman/hero, teacher, thoughtful, workaholic, etc. Some people even think of dads in military terms: MIA (missing in action), AWOL (absent without leave), Reserved Duty (slow to interact or reveal emotion), and Active Duty (all in, all the time). As children we want our dads to show up and be present, 24/7. To help and not hurt. To teach and not impair. To embrace and not wound. To love and not fail.

The saying goes, “you can’t teach what you don’t know”. But what do you do if you’re a male, on the cusp of being a father, with no role model or anyone to help you navigate one of the most important undertakings of your life?

You get help. Do some research to find resources that can help you become the best father you can be. Here are three websites to help jumpstart your search/journey:

https://thedadgang.com/

https://www.allprodad.com/

https://www.fatherhood.org/

How do you plan to Juneteenth this year? Celebrating Juneteenth means finding ways to honor freedom, culture, the past and the future. Juneteenth celebrations include: acknowledging the pain while celebrating the resilience of African American ancestors, attending events near you, church services, civil rights activism, festivities and parades, joining virtual Juneteenth celebrations, 

learning the full history of the holiday, musical performances and concerts, picnics, readings, spreading the word, supporting Black-owned businesses, food, and more.

Food has been essential to Juneteenth celebrations. History.com says: Certain foods are customary in Juneteenth celebrations, and traditionally, red foods dominate. The color signifies resilience amid bondage. As Chef Chris Scott who spearheaded the James Beard Foundation’s first Juneteenth celebration in 2018, explains, “the red symbolizes the blood that was shed by Black Africans and Black Americans during slave capture, slave travel, and slave trade here in the States and in the Caribbean.”  He lists watermelon, strawberries, barbeque, and red velvet cake as traditional red foods to include. 

On Juneteenth, many reflect on sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom and equality. It has been described as a day, "when we honor the strength and courage of African Americans and the contributions they have made and continue to make for our country." 

Juneteenth is a blending of the words June and nineteenth. It is the oldest known U.S. celebration of the end of slavery. It is also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, and Black Independence Day. On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the end of the civil war and the end of slavery, even though the Emancipation Proclamation came 2½ years earlier on January 1, 1863. President Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 17, 2021, making June 19th a federal holiday. All 50 states and the District of Columbia recognize Juneteenth as a holiday or observance, and at least 28 states and the District of Columbia have designated Juneteenth as a permanent paid and/or legal holiday.

To learn more about Juneteenth you can go to the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Juneteenth webpage (https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth) for info on: The First Juneteenth, Freedom Deferred, Tastes of Resilience, Sounds of Freedom, Juneteenth Today, Reading List, Commemorative Collection, and so much more.