Proud and honoured for 33 years being a ‘dad’

By Rawlson Paul

I became an adult—from my perspective—in 1992, when I found out my wife Marisa and I were expecting our first child. I got a real job because I knew I had to provide a more stable income for the new family God had blessed me with.

What a big year that was for me as a person—to get married and start a family! It was important to me then, and still is now, that our children would have a stable family environment where I would be available to them as a father and the best provider I could be. We did not have everything, but we made it work. We rented an apartment and moved in the day we got married, already preparing for our first child who was on the way.

In September that year, Jayson arrived. I remember walking up and down the hallway at the hospital, nervous and anxious, because I could not be there to hold Marisa’s hand during his birth—despite doing all the preparations—due to staffing issues at the hospital that day.

When I found out that Jayson was born and Marisa was okay, that’s the moment I truly gained the title ‘father’. I knew I had to protect, guide, and provide for this little version of us. That became my focus and remained that way to this day.

I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but I was determined to stand fast with Marisa, trying to keep her happy so that our children could also be happy and loved.

Three plus years later, we decided to have our second child, and this time, I was there for Jarryon’s delivery— what an experience that was! I knew that I was responsible for ensuring my family could stay together and we needed to be there for our children. Marisa was working like I was, and we would come home to our children exhausted—but somehow, we made it work.

At about two years later, our third child, Jonathan was born—three boys now. I saw how tired and exhausted Marisa was and asked her if she wanted to stay home with the children. I told her I would take on the full responsibility of providing for our family. I wasn’t sure how I would do it, but trusted that God, who gave me this gift of a family, would show me how to provide for them—and He did.

I worked long hours and weekends to make ends meet. We did not have everything, but we learned to sacrifice, to rely on the support of our families, and faith in God. He really made a way for us.

A year or so later, we started talking about trying to have a baby girl. We decided to try and early the next year, Krysten was born. Two years later, her sister, Kayandra followed. I was there for the birth of each of our children.

Each time, it only strengthened my resolve to work even harder and do whatever I had to do to provide for them.

When Kayandra turned 16, she started talking about adopting a child. At that time, it wasn’t even something we were considering—but God had His plan, and He was preparing us for it.

Within three years or so, God asked us to make space in our hearts and home for a baby girl, Kaitlyn, and we said ‘yes’.

As I approach 33 years as a parent, I’m very proud of our children and thank God for the honour and opportunity to be their father to the best of my ability.

Rawlson Paul is the Director of Operations at Universal Package Systems Ltd.  The Pauls attend Mass at St Theresa’s, Barataria and are involved in the family life ministry.