Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade has been praised for his efforts to raise his two sons as a single father, an opportunity which he says is the most significant one he will ever undertake. He released “A Father First: How My Life Became Bigger than Basketball” in September 2012, and hopes that his book will inspire other fathers to become more involved in their children’s lives.
Dwyane Wade has won three NBA championships and also a gold metal on the United States men’s basketball team during the 2008 Olympics Games. He was given sole custody of his two sons, Zaire and Zion, in 2011, and has become a role model for other single fathers and mothers. He has been involved with President Obama’s Fatherhood & Mentoring Initiative, which encourages fathers to spend quality time with their kids and to express their love for them, always keeping their word to their children and praising them for their accomplishments.
“It's a privilege and a huge responsibility,” Wade says of parenting - one that he says is the duty of every father. His book gives insight into the uniqueness of every child and how Wade has learned to father his two young boys - “every child is different and you therefore have to parent each differently,” he says.
Wade also addressed the problem of fatherlessness in America, which is widespread within the African American community. “For those men who are dads but not fully engaged as fathers, I want to urge you not to miss out on the greatest rewards and blessings that your children represent in your life,” he said.
