Stephen Baskerville's Taken Into Custody Taken Into Custody: The War Against Fatherhood, Marriage, and the Family by Stephen Baskerville, Ph.D. examines one of the greatest and most destructive civil rights abuses in America today--our family law system. Baskerville has authored many articles on fatherhood and family issues and is a frequent media commentator. To learn more or to purchase Taken Into Custody, click here.

6 Responses to “'The park is full of Sunday fathers and melted ice cream...' (Music Video)”

Note: The views expressed by readers in the reader comments do NOT necessarily reflect those of Glenn Sacks. The fact that the comment is posted on this blog does NOT signify that Glenn Sacks agrees with it. Posters' views are those of the posters alone--Glenn's views can ONLY be found in the blog post itself, not the comments.  

While blog commenters are given great freedom on this blog, there are some rules of moderation. To read those, click here.

1. callum Says:
   August 12th, 2007 at 8:12 am

   'A kid should be with his mother, everybody knows that'

   That's the worst part for me, just points out the complete double standard people have. Sure, women should be allowed to work as much, if not more than men, yet men can't even raise the kids.

   I'm just glad my parents aren't splitting up like this...

2. Cathy Says:
   August 12th, 2007 at 8:46 pm

   It isn't "people" who have a double standard. It's the Family Court System. They don't allow emotions to enter into negotiations over the financial issue of divorce. Yet, when it comes to child custody and visitation laws are written based on emotions.

   It is a gut, emotional reaction that children are better off with their mother. Sad thing is, when it comes to custody, what might be in the best interest of the child more than likely has nothing to do with emotions but LOGIC.

3. Lane Says:
   August 13th, 2007 at 12:38 am

   You mean it has to do with emotions so long as they are the females emotions.

4. Joel Says:
   August 13th, 2007 at 12:30 pm

   I used to hear that song and tear up. My ex sometimes referred to my time with my son as "baby-sitting." Thanks for posting this.

5. Al Says:
   August 13th, 2007 at 3:53 pm

   Glenn, thank you for posting this. This is a song that has bothered me for a long time. I heard that song a few years ago and really didn't know how to react to it. I will be honest, at first the song pissed me off. Like the part of the song that Callum quoted above that says, "A kid should be with his mother, everybody knows that" really angered me. How something like this could be so arbitrarily accepted in social conciousness (that the mother was OBVIOUSLY the better parent and should ALWAYS have almost exclusive custody of the children) seems to toss any idea of custodial parity between mothers and fathers out the window. And don't get me started on the "She says the kids are fine and that they miss me, Maybe I could come and baby-sit sometime" part of the song. That really upset me. However, if you really look at the song, its not advocating morals through the story in the song, but rather showing the raw reality and mix of emotions that are created in a father when divorce hits. I think what really kicks me emotionally is the part of the song when the guy, to save his sanity, has to come to the conclusion that what is going on is the best that can become of his situation. He settles for being an every-other weekend dad, he settles for the above-mentioned preconcieved notion that children are better off with their mother. He settles for being a babysitter once in a while. He settles so that he may go on from that point and create a new life. So, I think that the song successfully tells this progression that is so common among divorced dads.
   I guess one thing that someone can take from this song is that divorced dads need emotional support when things get rough. To put it plainly, it is VERY difficult to be a divorced dad in this society. You are assumed to be the worse parent, you are many times shackled with support payments that throw you into poverty, you sometimes have your children turned against you via PAS, etc. It is no wonder why 5 to 6 times as many divorced men and fathers commit suicide over married men and fathers. So, just remember to be there and lend your support for one of your friends if or when he ever goes through something like this. It will mean a lot.

6. Donna Says:
   August 17th, 2007 at 8:47 am

   I would like to write a song for the fathers whose children have been taken thousands of miles away from them and get to see them once a year if they are fortunate enough to have the funds to fly out to see them or have them flown to their homes after all of the legal fees, child support, changing economic scenes and blocks by malicious mothers have been overcome.

   My husband favors "Somewhere Out There" by James Ingram (with Linda Rondstadt). Listen to it and think about fathers who can't be with their children. You'll be so happy you'll cry.

   And thank you California for the Dissomaster - you have no idea how much it adds to the pain of children and fathers.

Leave a Comment