Dear dad,
I am human. As humans do, I could come down ill sometimes. The weather as well as stressful conditions affects me. When I am ill, I am counting on you to be there for me. I do want to know you are around. You should always be around.
It is your duty to provide a healthy living environment. Providing this may not be a guarantee for my good health though it helps. Many other factors add up to create a healthy life. However, you have an important role to play in ensuring I stay healthy.
Children are not like adults, we love to play and I do have a right to play. Off course teachers at school say learning should be fun. You cannot stop me from enjoying my youth because of your fear of my coming down ill. Your role is to create an enabling environment where I can play safely, learning and having fun at the same time.
There are illnesses common to kids that you have observed I have had as I grow. It is normal for kids my age to have them. The government has taken responsibility for some illnesses. You have a responsibility to ensure every treatment and vaccination I need to have to wade off these illnesses is given me. You have to stand behind mom to ensure my health is preserved.
You desire to see me healthy every time. It is a great desire but when I fall ill you have the responsibility to ensure I come back strong. You may not be a doctor so you do need the services of a qualified doctor and pharmacist who would offer me the right drugs and medication. Some dads overlook the welfare of their children leaving the responsibility to moms alone. Great dads know that their wards health is part of their responsibility.
As my dad, you need to teach me healthy principles that you apply to yourself to keep you healthy too. Teach me the benefit of exercise, eating right and drinking right too. I want to know the repercussions of taking unhealthy things. By doing this, you are leading me in living a healthy life now and in the future.
Health is wealth and the greatest wealth you can give me is the provision of a suitable environment for healthy growth and development. If I am down with illness, it could affect your person-hours at work, as you may be psychologically distracted.
The best way to keep me healthy is to provide me a healthy environment for my growth and by teaching me the prerequisites for a healthy life. By doing this you spare me from many diseases that often tries to steal into you and me too.
You need to have a first aid box at home and teach me how to use it too. In a case of an emergency, we can always run to it for our initial medications. I think we will have fewer problems having to deal with health issues in the family.
With love
your son