Life Lessons from a Single Father

You hear a lot of good stories of having a father who fixes everything in the household, the one who provides the needs of the family and the one who lets loose and plays with the children with all the games they could think of. However having to do all those things for four little children singlehandedly is another different story.


For thirty-six years, my father juggles life’s struggles as a single parent of four children. He is truly an epitome of undying love. He has been instrumental in my growing up years for he has taught me a great deal of unconditional love and compassion for others even if we have less to give.

He never keeps tabs of how much he loves us and how much he had gone through as a single parent. For years, I am a witness of such immeasurable love and it has shaped me of what I am today. He never fails to cheer for me in my sweet victory and cry with me when I lose my battles. He showed me how to love with all my heart and not regret the things I’ve lost along the way.


So when I had my first heartache, my Dad was there beside me and cried with me until I felt so much better. Never did I hear him say, “I told you so…” Instead, he just sits there consoling me with a simple and practical lesson, “If it’s meant to be, it will come back to you. If it isn’t, then better things will come your way, langga.”

When we were still in school, my father always drops everything despite his busy schedule just to witness all our milestones in school – may it be big or small. He may be stingy in some aspects but never on time and effort. At such an early age, I learned that time is the most precious thing anyone can give to a person because you can never go back in time of every missed opportunity to see your loved ones in their winning moments.

I’ve always been a Papa’s girl growing up. He had influenced me a lot especially in my decision-making skills and my outlook on life. Even our morning bonding moments over breakfast coffee, we talked about current events, politics and trivial stuff. Early on, he encouraged me to read and watch the news so I would be more aware of the world around me. I can never forget his favorite line, “Before you ask “WHY” – you have to READ, READ, READ.”

So at an early age, he trained me to have my own opinion and not be afraid to own it. It is his way of boosting my confidence and self-esteem especially in talking to people of different walks of life. He let me find my own voice to fight for what I believe in and not take any crap from anyone.

My father showed me what true love can do for a person when I was hospitalized for ten days. He spent sleepless night taking care of me when I was ill. He cried with me throughout my painful procedures, encouraged me to fight back when I was at my lowest point and he made me smile during my discomfort and weakness. Throughout the whole ordeal, he taught me the value of faith and resilience. And most of all, he instilled in me that love is the best cure for all illnesses.

As I’ve matured, I now understand his words of wisdom. Obstacles may be rough sometimes but he always points out that problems come and go to help us grow as a strong individual. Even if heartaches and failures break my spirit, life is a never-ending process of making things right. Inevitable setbacks are just temporary, anyway.

From all of the life lessons I’ve learned from my father, the best one so far is seeing his life as a single parent unfolds before us. No matter how much pain and work he went through but he remained so strong and positive to all of us. He never made us feel broken nor in any way different from our friends or from other people. Singlehandedly, he made us WHOLE and happy children because of the love he had shown after all these years.

That’s the BEST lesson a child can ever learn from her father.



Beyee Caballes
iSTORYA League of Writers