fatherhood from scratch

When it comes down to it; no one has ever gotten a manual that they could refer to that will lay out every single solitary phenomena associated with raising children. You almost immediately have to rely on your own personal experience, or piece of experience, if you’ve ever been parented at all in your life. Even with all of that, there will be things you are never truly ready for. However some let their hearts guide them and when you lead with that, children can be saved every minute of every day.

Today we are going to give some thought to contemporary fatherhood. Meet Martez Reed, some know him as Tez. His loved ones know him as Marty. He’s a thirty four year old black male who is the father of three children.

He grew up with hoop dreams as deep as the ebony in his eyes and he longed for a chance to share his gift of playing ball while showing kindness to others. He became a husband and father during his career at Berea College, where he graduated with a bachelors in Industrial Technology.

Coming from Clarksdale community in Louisville, he would move away from home for the first time, to attend college, and begin his journey with fatherhood during a time when he was ripe with potential. Since then he's added two more children to his tribe, post graduation and has developed himself in the world as a family man who devotes his time and energy into creating the hood he will always be the king of, Fatherhood.

What was your understanding and or experience of being a father before you had your own?

“I had male figures in my life, some who’s experience had a bigger impact that others”

What were your goals before you graduated college?

“My goals at the time were to try and find out who I was because before then I was playing ball and that was all I was doing, so when that stopped I set out to figure out what else I wanted to do.”

Whom were examples of fathers whom you wanted to mimic?

Keiven Booker

What about him did you see that you wanted to mimic?

The sacrifices he made despite his health condition. He was a man who came into my life before I was one years old. He had only one kidney; which affected his ability to work. But what I remember most is that he made sure I had the things I needed, whether it was a ride to practice or buying shoes for the upcoming season. I remembered how much he supported me in doing what I loved and that’s basketball.

What is something you learned after becoming a father you didn’t know before? I didn’t fully understand the worry that went along with the security of raising a child.

What’s your favorite thing about fatherhood?

Seeing them smile and enjoy their lives.

What’s one bit of advice you would give your children? Know who you are before you bring children into this world.

What’s your least favorite thing about fatherhood? Not having the time I felt I needed to think about who I am. I also want to say that it’s not going to be perfect and nobody really cares if it is or not.