Letter: Empathy for single dad

To the editor:

In response to the article, "Getting him back", published on Jan. 8, 2012 on tbewswatch.com.

It's a truly tragic chain of events for a parent to have to endure in order to continue wanting to parent his child.

In every way possible we have a father here in our societ,y along with countless others, who wants nothing more than the right to be his child's parent in every sense of the word; a parent taking on the responsibility of raising that child, loving that child, providing all the child may need necessary to sustain a reasonably comfortable lifestyle.

A parent is empathetic and understands a child yearns for nurturing, loving and involved parents to guide, discipline and teach them what it is to be loved by a parent.

Why then, I might ask is Mr. Mezo forced to endure such agony to be someone who actually wants to parent his child. Yet we also have in society today, and in past years as well, fathers who abandon their legal responsibilities to provide their children with the attention, love, nurturing ways, financial support, physical presence, guidance and discipline they require from two involved parents.

And yes, there are mothers out there as well that fall into same category of failing to provide legally for their offspring. The courts are failing our children.

They have the power to make orders in the courts to make these people accountable for their lack of responsibility that is intentional and purposeful in most cases.

A father may argue they are not working, they are injured, sick, or what have you, and form their response to no support of that child, based on the above excuses. They are excuses, plain and simple. When you bear a child , there are no possible excuses that should be accepted when it comes to being a provider for your child's needs.

I have parented my children alone in all ways for 23 years and counting, with uninvolved fathers by pre-meditated choices of their own free will.

They walked away from the responsibility of their legalities involving their children.

Mr. Mezo I applaud you for going above and beyond, for fighting for your rights as a parent who wants more than anything the opportunity to do what so many in our society are legally getting away with as the judicial system continues to fall far behind in accountability – being accountable.

Parents wake up. Courts wake up. Take a look in the mirror and ask yourselves one question, if you please. "How do I continue to be able to sleep at night?"

I am so blessed to know Mr. Mezo and I will never have to ask that question of ourselves.

That's why we sleep at night. We have a clear conscience and have to answer to no one as we are accountable! Good luck with your continued fight to be reunited with your child and may you always be strong as he needs you always.

Stacey Mannella,
Shuniah