The Perfect Family--Why we stick to the ideal

In my early 20s, my husband and I lived on Miami Beach. Our ward represented a small United Nations, with a varying mix of social classes. In our Primary, the majority of the children were from single parent homes. Since I’d grown up in the era of political correctness, I decided it was time to be progressive. When Father’s Day approached, I opted for us to skip over the requisite, “I’m So Glad When Daddy Comes Home.” After all, most of the kids never saw their fathers. There was no need to cause these children unnecessary pain. Father’s Day slid by without notice.

Well, the next year, under the direction of a new primary chorister, these same children stood and proudly sang, “I’m So Glad When Daddy Comes Home.” The chorister was no stranger to family challenges. A convert of a decade, she had a blended family and was in a second marriage. She was aware that many of these children had no father, but she believed in the message of the song. From watching the children, I could tell they did, too.

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