Wisdom for Our Sons: Straight Talk from a Street Cop

Before I became a cop, I thought poverty, racism, bad neighborhoods and substandard schools were the reasons young men failed to succeed in life. Then I joined the police department, hit the streets and immediately got mugged by reality: I was wrong, the media were wrong, my professors were wrong and the politicians were wrong. Why? From my first day on the job I was meeting young men from the poorest of homes in the worst of neighborhoods who were honest, intelligent, respectful and destined for future success. I also met just as many young men who were born into wealthy homes, in wonderful neighborhoods, who had no respect for their parents, abused alcohol and drugs, were opportunistic thieves, and ended up in the back seat of my patrol car on a regular basis. It didn't take long before I discovered that it was the fathers-yes, the fathers; they were the single most important factor in determining the future success or failure of their sons. What can you do to become a good dad, or maybe even a great dad? Teach your son. Teach him valuable life lessons about faith, honesty, love, courage and other important virtues. Teach him about God, teach him about Angels and teach him about you.