Being a father in Venezuela

Being a father is a true privilege and a great responsibility, usually, the father has the task of providing everything their children need to be raised in a safe and comfortable environment. However, what can a father do to support his children in Venezuela? I can assure you that most are willing to forget themselves.  Even though it is not an easy chore to bear the weight of this crisis. 

Parents generally want to give their children the best diet and a good education. However, unemployment, lack of income, prices, excessive amounts and the economic war in Venezuela are the main enemies of the parents in the country. Thinking about what will I feed my children today has become a constant source of worry.

I think the first thought of a father in Venezuela upon waking up is what will I do to provide the little money I have for the whole week? I hope the dollars that I do have does not lose its value! What can I do to earn more money? In addition to the endless concerns that may come to your mind. What you do earn is not really enough to cover even 10% of all the family’s needs, so the Venezuelan father is obliged to take other alternatives such as having several extra jobs, selling something that you no longer use at home, asking for a loan, begging, and even stealing. It is no secret to anyone that necessity has made many people thieves.   

On one occasion I was talking to a man of about 30 years of age and expressed how grateful he was to know that his two sons had eaten at least one arepa each for the day. It was anguish for him to think that his children would sleep without eating.

I have known many stories similar to these, in which parents voluntarily decide to stop feeding themselves to give it to their children, not just for a day but for several days in a row.  Should your child get sick it becomes more of a sacrifice as you will need to walk miles to find medicines. Before you leave you are filled with doubts that there will even be supplies to buy. 

No matter how many things parents should do or not do in Venezuela, they are true heroes, they have developed the ability to adapt to circumstances, even when things are the most precarious they always look for a way to solve the problem. They stop dressing, wearing shoes, and eating, they always set aside there own needs and prioritize the needs of their families.  No matter how tired they are, they hide emotions, it is folly to show sadness and exhaustion.  They must provide their smiles to their children.

Daniel Moreno