Make Every Day Father's Day
By Being There
by
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It was the seventh day of March, 1979. Loretta had early morning labor pains. I took her to her mother's house in route to work because the doctor told us during one of our visits that when labor starts, a mother with her first child would be in labor for four to six hours. After nine AM, I called his office and he said monitor the contractions. When they become every fifteen to thirty minutes consistently, and if they get stronger, longer, and closer together, bring her in. The doctor also wanted her to walk around as much as possible. Since I only worked twenty minutes away when I got the call, I left work and ran to Loretta's mother's house. Loretta was in true labor and surprised the doctor for being in true labor with her first child, and within four to five hours. The doctor wanted us to meet him in his office instead of going straight to the hospital, which I thought was odd. When we arrived at his office, Loretta's mother came with us. This was her family's first grandchild, and my families second. The doctor was away from his office delivering another child. While in the office, his nurse asked me to have Loretta lay on the table so when he arrives she will be ready for delivery. Seconds turned into minutes, minutes turned into hours. I was never a heavy coffee drinker, but that day I was drinking coffee black. The future grandmother, who had a medical background, was getting restless. The doctor's nurse kept calling for him, but his patient was having complications delivering which delayed him to our delivery. When he finally arrived, I though Loretta's mother was going to jump on the doctor. Little did she know I would have beaten her to it. He asked me to take down her garments while he was changing into his uniform. Portions of the Amniotic Sac were protruding out and as soon as the doctor broke the water, our first-born literally jumped out of his mother into the doctors arms. This was to be the first of three experiences I would not wish on my worse enemy because all three of the children's births were truly a gift from God. I held our first born within seconds of his birth. While his mother was being stitched up, I was holding him in a blanket counting his fingers and toes, praying that everything else was normal with our first child. This was a young man born to a mother who was raised in a nice middle class family, three aunts and one uncle, a family who believed in God, and was a credit to their community.
We were approaching New Years and I am praying to God “please don't let this baby past the first of the year because if that happens, I might need a hospital bed right next to her myself”. Wouldn't you know it, December 31
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About the Book
This was to be a book about a woman who literally gave her life to her children by helping to raise a number of her own siblings after the deaths of her parents by age sixteen. She then went on to raise all of her children by herself, but since her death in March of 2003, I’ve decided to write about the benefits of raising three of her grandchildren to complete her legacy. This is a book to help young adults understand that they can achieve their personal goals, be it educationally, personally, and as parents if they attempt to do it right and with good intentions. This book is to remind young adults that having children is a grown up responsibility that is not to be taken lightly. This book also helps young ladies to love and respect themselves, and to not allow themselves to be taken advantage of. It shows young women that you could grow up, get a good education, learn from your mother and father, and marry a mate who loves you and is willing to be there for you. To be responsible parents who are everyday people, it takes commitment, determination, and not to be afraid to listen to those who could help you. It’s hard for young adults to listen to those who could help, but as young people, it can only help you make your life better down the road. I’m sure that most young mothers, who decide to give their children up for adoption, wouldn’t if they had their children’s responsibility. As a young man, I wanted to give to my wife and children the things I didn’t get and that my mother and the thing that my mother received, while she was growing up. All young adults have to do is believe in themselves, and I believe this book can help them do that.
About the Author
What qualifies Theodore Wentz to write about being a successful father? Like our forty-fourth President, and millions of other children who were victims of being abandoned by one or both of their parents, this is an indescribable emptiness that will take you to your grave. In his case, it was his father who abused his mother, and his mother had to put him out for drinking and not being an example to his children. He'll never for as long as he lives forget her words “I'll raise these kids myself before I let you not be a positive role model to your boys”. His mother, to whom this book is dedicated, made the choice to do it alone, with five boys and one daughter from his father. She began working one or two jobs if necessary to feed, clothe, provide shelter, and raise them, believing in God and attending their local congregation and seeking the help of their elders in their congregation. In writing this book, he bring to the table a life long example of hard work, love for family, and a high respect for our most precious gift from God, our women. Theodore can look any young man and woman in the eye and tell them, with 31 years of parental experience, about seeing the value of being raised by a “be there” mom and that of his life experiences can help them be a responsible parent. No PHD of any kind could replace that wealth of experience.