First Heroes Origins

"Our society views our Dads as optional."

It was January 2015 and I was in the guest bathroom of my home. I was cutting my hair, when my wife walked up to me and said, "We need to talk." My thoughts exactly. You already know the first thing that came to my mind: "Now what?" I was getting ready for something else that she wasn't happy with. And it's not that I had a problem with a new problem, it was that I felt that it would take me forever to catch up to the problems and fix everything. I honestly wish I had a magic wand that I could have waved and solved all of her problems in an instant, but I knew her concerns would take time to fix. So when she approached me and said, "We need to talk," I simply prepared myself mentally for what would come next.

Little did I know I could not be prepared for what she would say next.

She started, "I've decided that I need to make some changes. I've been neglecting myself for too long and I need to start putting myself first. And if I have to let some things go to do that, then I'll just have to do that."

I wasn't really sure where she was going with it all, but in the next, short five months, I would definitely find out. On Mother's Day of 2015, my wife of nine years left our home. It completely broke my heart because I never in a million years would have thought I would find myself in that situation. To make matters worse, she took our two beautiful children with her. Within one month after she left, she started the legal process. I started to feel the effects of her actions in July of 2015. It hit me like a ton of bricks all at once. She started with a request to have a Temporary Restraining Order be placed against me. Claiming that I was mentally unstable and a danger to myself, her, and our kids. Then the process took over from there. Where I used to see my children and talk with them everyday, I was now reduced to seeing my children for only two hours per week under supervision - supervision that I had to pay for ($80 per hour). But no price was too high to see my kids.

In talking with a friend, who is an attorney, she candidly said to me, "It's sad, but our society views Dads as optional." Her words have stuck with me all this time. And it's for this reason that I started working on a plan to change that.

As time would go on, I would spend many hours in prayer trying to get direction on how I can help Dads like myself. Then one day, I got the name, "First Heroes." Dads are not merely heroes to their children, they are the first heroes their children will ever encounter. They are Super Heroes that are trustworthy and dependable. Children jump into their Daddys' arms because they know they will catch them and not let them fall.

Because of the support system I have around me and conjunction with my faith in God, I have been able to rise above my unfortunate circumstances. And now I'm ready to begin helping other Dads do the same. First Heroes is a community of not only Dads, but the support systems that surround them - both male and female. Here, we're free to help one another, giving sound advice that's in the best interest of our children. Here, we're free to pour our hearts out. Here, we're free to encourage and lift each other up when we get knocked down.

It's my prayer that you would share this amazing website with as many other friends and family that you know who could benefit or add to our community. Together, we will Save the Day!