I know that the most important gift I can give to my children is my time.
– Jorge Avendano, Father of the Year at Davis/Morgan/Summit Head Start-Early Head Start, Kaysville, UT
Being the best father I can be is very important to me. Even after a long day of work, I make sure to spend one-on-one time with both of my children. When I work at night, I make sure to call at bedtime to wish my daughter Amariah, sweet dreams and sing to her one of my favorite songs from my childhood. One of my favorite things to do with my kids is to cuddle and read stories. I know that the most important gift I can give to my children is my time.
My father left us when I was 3. So, when I was growing up, I believed it was the father's job to provide for the family. It wasn't until I attended the Head Start fatherhood class that I realized that there was so much more to being a good dad. I saw that we needed to spend more time together and reprioritize my life. Because of that class, I got more interested in the day-to-day activities of my daughter and became more involved with her. I make it a priority now to take the day off from work to be with her in class and attend activities.