It's been said, "Dad is a son's hero and a daughter's first love. Many will argue that having the father in the household playing an active role in the upbringing of his child sets the child up for future success, as well as successful relationships socially. This topic is one that is near and dear to my heart, being that I grew up in a single parent household without my father. In today's society fatherless children seem to be already labeled as the "troublemakers , being a menace is almost expected. Statics will show that "Fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, suicide, poor educational performance, teen pregnancy, and criminality. A Fatherless child but very little on the positive. I personally believe that not all fatherless children are affected negatively. Sometimes growing up fatherless could be the best thing that has ever happened to a child. There are several reasons why a men choose not to be in their children's lives. My dad chose to marry and have a separate life and wasn't involved in my upbringing. This is one of the best things that he could have ever done for me, because of his absence my mother was very strict on my brother and I academically and otherwise. Without my dad being around I've had the opportunity to spend more time with my grandparent when my mother was away at work. My grandparents had a major influence on me; they instilled traditional morals and values in me, which children today are growing up without. I compare my life to the life of my siblings that grow up with my dad having an active part in their life, and the differences in our lives are mind blowing. Due to my upbringing in my single parent household I was taught that failure is not an option and to always strive to do better, so that's what I live by. I'm assuming that my dad was more lenient on my siblings because they are the complete opposite. Early this year I made an attempt