Single fathers want more say in children’s lives

Trinidad & Tobago Guardian ^ | Sep 23, 2012

[WilliamIII]

Rhondall Feeles, founder of the Single Fathers Association of T&T, wants to help single fathers who would like more responsibility in their children’s lives. The group, which he started a month ago, hopes to meet with the incoming Justice Minister, Christlyn Moore, to discuss court orders which place children in the primary care of their mothers. Moore is to be sworn in as minister this week.

Feeles said, “There are men who are willing to be part of their children’s lives and we are embarking on a recruitment drive for fellow supporters and single fathers.” However, he said the group was supportive of single-parent families on the whole, adding that the drive would also target single mothers going through similar distress. The organisation’s latest meeting, at the Chaguanas Sports Facility, drew “a good turnout,” Feeles said.

“There will be another meeting next week. We will hand out flyers at the Family Court and create awareness on the morning shows. We had people come from as far as Tobago,” he said. “We also support women who support men. There are men who have not seen their children in years and many of those children do not have a father figure in their lives. We have women who attended the meeting because they see the significance of having a father in their kids’ lives.”

Feeles said some of the men were emotional throughout the meeting, to the point of tears, because they were frustrated with the system. “Several of the men have not seen their children in years and even broke down in tears.

[A_perfect_lady]

I said goodbye to all that too, many years ago. I don’t even date anymore. All my friends who are in relationships are miserable and stressed out. Humans really are quite dangerous to get too close to.