Jason Kelce shows us what active fathers can do for their children

CNN
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At 6’3” and 295 pounds, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce often towers over others. His big bushy beard makes him look like a modern-day Paul Bunyan.

When he announced his retirement, tears began to flow. Throughout his 40-minute speech, he hid his face behind giant hands, honoring the coaches and band members who taught him what he needed to learn to become a great football player and an even greater human being. I expressed my gratitude to the teacher.

As he tried to control his emotions and told himself, “Come on,” he talked about the influence of his father, Ed Kelce.

Most people know by now that Jason Kelce is an All-Pro center who had an impressive 13-year career. He has won a Super Bowl. He even played against his older brother, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, in the Super Bowl. (And to impress his daughter, Jason met Taylor Swift.)

All these accolades started with parent involvement. I give a lot of credit to his mother, Donna Kelsey, but my joy is seeing a truly dedicated father set an example for other fathers.

The story of Jason's father's influence is a quiet one. This movie doesn't include the drama of an absentee father going out to get a gallon of milk. This story lacks the moral outrage of a father who refuses to pay child support. There are no clowns who can't seem to complete the simplest tasks.

Jason's story is about an ordinary father who loves his children. He worked at the steel mill, encouraging his sons to do their best. And when they fell short of their best, his father was there to give him a hug.

We all know that the teenage years can be full of turmoil. Our self-esteem is expressed in our appearance, and for many men it has to do with how strong we are or how tough the world perceives us to be.

Jason tearfully shared how his father helped him when he felt unsure of himself or lacked self-confidence. “I am a product of my upbringing,” he said. “An available, loving, devoted father may be the greatest gift a child can ask for in our society.”

He credits his father's “unwavering faith” for his success. Jason and his father demonstrated the importance of fathers in children's lives and how the decisions we make have far-reaching effects than any of us could imagine.

My father had a similar influence on my life. I grew up on a small farm in southern Arkansas. There were pigs, pumpkins, and chickens, so I was sure they were trying to get me. I spent most of my time outside of school with my father.

The lessons my father taught me weren't just about right and wrong. He taught me to be confident, because in his opinion I can do anything. Just when I thought I wasn't tough enough, he told me in his Southern voice that I was “tough enough.”

When my dad told us he had multiple sclerosis, he told us not to worry. I was 8 years old. Eventually, the disease progressed to the point where she had to use a wheelchair.

Every time I worried or worried, he said, “Oh, everything will be fine.”

That optimism was thrown at me when I was a teenager. But now, as a father myself, I understand the same way Jason understands his father's support. It's okay because his father believed in me.

I've seen studies that show kids whose fathers are involved do better in school, have higher self-esteem, and show empathy just like Jason Kelce. Children whose fathers are involved are also more likely to “walk the straight and narrow,” as Southern fathers would say. This is a euphemism for avoiding drugs, alcohol, and police visits.

I know that, but seeing real-life fathers like Jason Kelsey and Ed is so important to me.

When I was a child, my father was the original stay-at-home dad. I worked with him on the farm doing housework until we moved. From there, he and my mom got college degrees and started working. However, after a few years, he was unable to drive due to illness. As a teenager, this was when I needed my dad the most, and he was there.

Thanks to my father's support and belief, I went to university. When I graduated, I worked for Adult Protective Services in Texas. My job was to protect the elderly and disabled, like my father. Eight years later, after raising two children, I became a stay-at-home dad. Eventually, I wrote a book about my experience.

The most memorable part of Jason's retirement speech is when he talks about being drafted into the military and how his father cried because his son achieved his dream. It was not the father's dream fulfilled by living through his son, but his son's dream fulfilled.

The pieces here tell you just about everything you need to know about Ed Kelce. These should be taken as examples, not exceptions because they are not exceptions. These are the stories of ordinary fathers who inspire their sons to be extraordinary.

Shannon Carpenter is a writer and author of books.the ultimate househusband” and became the father of three children.