Today is Martin Luther King’s Holiday and one day before President Obama’s Inauguration, so I thought I’d post something that’s fitting for both celebrations.

Say what you will about President Obama, the one thing you cannot deny is he is truly a devoted and loving father.  The Parade magazine recognizes this characteristic about our President and asked him to write a letter to his daughters, as well as every other child in America, to showcase this awesome trait in our President.  As usual, President Obama showcases how truly eloquent he is as it relates to verbal, and now written, speech.  Don’t believe me?  Read for yourself:

Dear Malia and Sasha,

I know that you’ve both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn’t have let you have. But I also know that it hasn’t always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn’t make up for all the time we’ve been apart. I know how much I’ve missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.

When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me-about how I’d make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn’t seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn’t count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that’s why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.

I want all our children to go to schools worthy of their potential-schools that challenge them, inspire them, and instill in them a sense of wonder about the world around them. I want them to have the chance to go to college-even if their parents aren’t rich. And I want them to get good jobs: jobs that pay well and give them benefits like health care, jobs that let them spend time with their own kids and retire with dignity.

I want us to push the boundaries of discovery so that you’ll live to see new technologies and inventions that improve our lives and make our planet cleaner and safer. And I want us to push our own human boundaries to reach beyond the divides of race and region, gender and religion that keep us from seeing the best in each other.

Sometimes we have to send our young men and women into war and other dangerous situations to protect our country-but when we do, I want to make sure that it is only for a very good reason, that we try our best to settle our differences with others peacefully, and that we do everything possible to keep our servicemen and women safe. And I want every child to understand that the blessings these brave Americans fight for are not free-that with the great privilege of being a citizen of this nation comes great responsibility.

That was the lesson your grandmother tried to teach me when I was your age, reading me the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence and telling me about the men and women who marched for equality because they believed those words put to paper two centuries ago should mean something.

She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better-and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It’s a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.

I hope both of you will take up that work, righting the wrongs that you see and working to give others the chances you’ve had. Not just because you have an obligation to give something back to this country that has given our family so much-although you do have that obligation. But because you have an obligation to yourself. Because it is only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you will realize your true potential.

These are the things I want for you-to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That’s why I’ve taken our family on this great adventure.

I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.

Love, Dad 

It is commonly believed that a strong family unit creates a safe, positive and supportive place for all members to thrive.  In other words, a strong family unit is able to utilize resources and to live together in a fairly healthy manner.  But with the way the family unit is declining, I have a couple of questions for you:  Do you think family values have slipped?  Or better yet, what exactly makes up a strong family that possesses good family values?

Today I’m concerned about this more than any other day in my life.  Today is the day my daughter will be born and I feel the change in responsibility already.  I have a former co-worker, who referred to Kim and I as DINKs, which stands for Dual Income No Kids.  As you read this, that term is no longer applicable to us!  Simply put — one child, increased responsibilities!  Obviously, we are the adults in our small family unit, so the responsibilities that go along with raising a child fall squarely on our shoulders.

In a strong family unit, the adults set the tone. They lead by example. They reach out to friends and community and teach their children the importance of doing the same — and that becomes part of who the children are. They work together to solve problems, and they pass their skills on to the next generation. Some important elements of a strong family system are family cohesion, family flexibility and family communication.

Cohesion could be thought of as the feeling of being loved, of belonging to the group and being nurtured by it. A family cannot always be together, and that is a good thing, but the confidence that goes along with being part of that family unit must be there.

Structure in a family is a must or it will become chaotic and will not be a peaceful setting. On the other hand, there must be flexibility or the family becomes rigid and the authority figures become resented.  The strong family unit works together to avoid stressful situations and solve problems without blaming, criticizing and finding fault with each other.  Families that tend to have a strong spiritual base seem to have a sense of well-being that facilitates this working together in times of stress.

Ever hear the saying, “What we have here is a failure to communicate?” A lack of communication can rip a family apart and destroy them. Things that facilitate communication are the things like family closeness, flexibility, time spent together, spirituality. All members must feel a freedom within the group to express themselves freely.

The leader(s) of the family are looked at for guidance and as role models, both very important. In a family that is parented by a happily married couple, people are able to express themselves more freely. A happy marriage seems to set the tone in the house. It spills over from the family to the community and a healthy family will be reaching out to help others. They do not tend to isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Much of this I learned from growing up, but now I take on a new role.

It will be very important for us is to teach our daughter to make good decisions.  If she watches us make well, thought out decisions, there is a better probability of her becoming a good decision maker.

A healthy, happy family benefits our whole society. There are less traditional families than ever before and that doesn’t necessarily signal a negative impact on children.  There are single parents out there who do an excellent job raising their children and for taking on the responsibilities of mother and father, they should be applauded.

Are our family values so much less than they once were and if so, what can we do to change them for the better?