Absent Parents, Let The Kids Talk" Interview. Part Two.

Good morning from Angels of Inspiration. We are happy to give to you this morning part two of our "Absent Parents, Let The Kids Talk" interview.

As parents we are on the outside looking in to see the emotions that our child shares with us. We hope that this interview will permit you to go from standing on the outside to sitting in on the inside.

Angels of Inspiration . . . Again we want to thank all the kids that took the time to share of them self with us through this very personal topic.

Angels of Inspiration . . . What is some of the things you think you have missed out on not having that active parent?

Amanda 12 . . . I’ve missed out on having a father figure and having those long talks with a father that makes them special. I’ve missed out having father time. I’ve missed out on having a big family and seeing my mom and dad having fun together. It’s like as if our family is missing something.

Ashleigh 22 . . . I have missed out on your typical father daughter activities. My father put me in sports where he would attend because he had friends who had children my age, it became more of a social event for him then anything to do with me. But at least he was there.

Chantal 16 . . . I believe that there are many things that I have missed out on from my absent parent that I have explained earlier. There are just some things that I can't talk about with my father, as he wouldn't have experienced it. The thing that I really think I missed out on is girl talk. Just to go out and have a girls night shopping and just talking about simple things just being girls. Talk about guys, and make-up or even to have that "when I was younger" conversation that all teenagers laugh at.

Kayla 17 . . . my dad has been gone since I was 5 I believe and therefore I have missed out on a lot! I missed out on the family activies, trips and family photos. I will never get back to being daddy’s girl now because too much distance has been put between us. I will never know what it will be like to have a father around.

Michael 17 . . . I have missed out on so many things, how to be a good dad, how to take care of a family and deal with responsibility. I missed out on having a loving father to teach me how to fix things, father son talks, how to play sports. That’s mostly it.

Angels of Inspiration . . . If you could be a parent for one day, what one thing would you teach your absent parent?

Amanda 12 . . . I would teach my father that your children are the most important people in your life and you shouldn’t just block them out for other people and other stuff.

Ashleigh 22 . . . I would teach my absent parent that love is unconditional, you don’t have to work for it or prove yourself for it is just there and its never ending.

Chantal 16 . . . If I could be a parent for one day . . . I would show her how much she has missed out on my life. I would treat my child the way children are supposed to be treated. I would always tell him or her how much I am proud of them, and how much I love them. I would let them make decisions on their own, as long as it won't hurt them, to let them learn from their choice. Life is about having fun and making the time you have count. Punishing them for everything they do won't help. It’s rewarding them for the good things they do that help. I would take him or her to something they are interested in. Teach them valuable lessons. Hug them and kiss them on the head. Everything I know a child should have. I will show her that I will not abandon my child. I will not turn into what she is.

Kayla 16 . . . If I could be a parent for one day, I would teach him that you only live life once, so make the best of it and don’t do anything that you will regret and can’t fix. Children are the most important in life, they need their parents in their life to grow and be their teachers.

Michael 17 . . . I would teach my absent parent how to support their child, emotionally as well as financially. I would teach him what to do with his children how to make his kids feel special and to not ignore them.

Angels of Inspiration . . . If you could think of something that you are grateful for in your life right now what would that one thing be?

Amanda 12 . . . I am grateful for having someone in my life which is my mother who has to care extra because there aren’t two parents to care about me.

Ashleigh 22 . . . I am grateful for my mother, and her never-ending supply of love and encouragement, she has been my rock.

Chantal 16 . . . The thing I am grateful for is simple, an amazing father who has been there for me through thick and thin. I know it must not be easy for him to look after a teenage girl, worried not to say the wrong thing. We are more than just father and daughter. We are best friends. We joke around acting silly, we help each other with advice, and we can be serious when the time calls for it. He inspires me. I can't stress enough how good a father he truly is to me. Also I am very grateful for all my friends who stand by my side when I need a shoulder and to talk 'girl talk', and who listens to me when I vent to them about not having my mother around. Also I am grateful for all of my other 'mothers' who treat me so well and give me all the motherly advice that they can, as they know I have an absent parent. They stand up for me when they see how my mother treats me. They tell me how proud they are of me and make sure I know that I am loved.

Kayla 17 . . . I am grateful to have my mother. She has been there for me for every little thing! When I need something or have to have something, I have always got it. She is the best mother and I would never ask for another! We have our flaws yes, but doesn’t every teenage girl and their mother? But she will always be on my mind and how lucky I am to have her!

Michael 17. . . I am grateful that I have my mom being both father and mother, but she can only teach me so much. I'm just grateful that she at least supports what I do and is here for me all the time through good or bad and she loves me unconditionally.

Angels of Inspiration . . . If you could say one thing about what you need from that parent that was absent in your life, what would that be?

Amanda 12. . . I would tell him that I need someone to talk to, when my mom can’t be there.

Ashleigh 22 . . . I would tell them to grow up, I need a man, a father, not a boy who runs and hides.

Chantal 16 . . . The one thing that I feel I need from my absent parent would definitely be. Acceptance . . . or love. I think that she loves the idea of being a parent, the idea that she has a child. What she doesn't know is children involve responsibility, the one thing she has proved that she doesn't love. She believes that parenting means telling me what I should and shouldn't do. If I think otherwise, then I’m a horrible child because we are always supposed to listen to everything they say. I listen to my father. I do not listen to anything my mother says. If I had, then I am sure that I would have no self esteem left to even go out in public. Why listen to someone like her, when she can't commit to her own daughter's life. She doesn't know a thing about me.

Kayla 17 . . . I think I have pretty well told him everything that he needs to know. He has really missed out on a lot in my 18 years of my life and will never have the opportunity to change it and go back. It is his own fault and choice to leave and never wanted to do anything with me. I have told him that he has hurt me more than anyone has ever!

Michael 17. . . I would tell him to just be there for me, and support what I do.

Angels of Inspiration . . . What makes you the special person that you are right now, today?

Amanda 12 . . . What makes the special person that I am today is first my mom then my ability to persist and don’t often give up. Also, I have a caring heart.

Ashleigh 22 . . . My mother, hands down.

Chantal 16 . . . Motivation, support and love, these are the three things that make who I am today. For the lack of my absent parent, I have many others who make up for it. My father is so supportive on what I want in life. My friends and the rest of my family are always there with me no matter what. They tell me I am a good kid and they are proud of me, which makes me strive even more to get the best grades in school that I possibly can. Eventually when I am older, I will become successful and loved. My absent parent will see this and regret that she was gone throughout my life.

Kayla 17 . . . My mom makes me the special person today that I am. She has shown me how to grow and has been there for me to talk to. She has never abandoned me without a mom in my life. I saw how hard it was to be an only parent raising four kids, but she did it. Every morning, she woke up knowing she had a family and four wonderful children, my dad doesn’t have that feeling with him. She was strong and so will I be in the future!

Michael 17 . . . My mom has made me who I am today. I also have the ability to create stories, produce videos, if my absent parent wasn't absent and I was an active person. I wouldn't have stumbled upon this talent.

Angels of Inspiration. . . Derek and I would like to extend a very warm extended thank you to Amanda, Ashleigh, Chantal, Kayla and Michael for being a strong part of Angels of Inspiration this week. You guys are awesome and having the privilege to have touched on this topic with you all it’s hard not to notice the huge heart you all seem to have. Thank you so much. You should all be proud of yourselves. From Derek and I we think You ARE a special group and certainly Angels of Inspiration!

Angels of Inspiration . . . Every parent should think really hard before deciding to let themselves become an absent parent. Just remember a few things. You're still their parent, so please act like a responsible parent. Being a child with an absent parent may also effect the child in many other ways that our interview hasn’t touch on also, such as depression, with drawl, feelings of hopelessness which if let ignored may bring forth thoughts of suicide. So many children dealing with an absent parent may turn to bullying or they may be the one being bullied due to the insecurities they have from the absent parent not being present.

Last, but not least, do try your best to have fun with your children. Try to see the world through their eyes again, and remember what it was like to be a kid yourself. Remember laughter is the key to true happiness. After all parents are like a god, in the eyes of a child.

If you know an absent parent or a child dealing with an absent parent please have them read this very heart felt interview.