Thought for today:
"Today is my son Matthew's birthday. Matthew is his mother's first child and despite him having a different father to James, Adam, William and Rebecca, the children are as close today as any brother and sister. 'Half-brother' is a term that I would not tolerate hearing from my other children right from the beginning of their relationship with Matthew. It is hard enough trying to establish family unity between children born to different parents when they are thrown together in their youth without inviting any unnecessary fractious division through the common usage of the term 'half-brother', 'half this' or 'half that!'
In fact, I have always considered our Matthew to be blessed with a purity of thought and a simplicity of action that my other four children will never know. His father is a lovely man and all round, our Matthew has been doubly blessed by the two fathers who have always loved him and watched out for him. All my other four children jumped the conventional hoops and ended their education at various universities, whereas our Matthew often struggled to get by in the educational world of the Comprehensive School and reached the finishing tape among the runners from the second half of the competitive field. Since the age of twenty years though, twenty-one years ago, he has always held down his factory job and has been highly thought of by his employers. Today, he lives in his own mortgaged property, has a regular job, pays his weekly bills and maintains an independent lifestyle.
A six-footer with the body muscle and physique to match, Matthew is totally non-aggressive and is one of the nicest people a stranger could ever meet. I think of him as 'The Gentle Giant.' He is generous to a fault and will give anyone his last penny. From all my children, his birthday, Christmas and Father's Day card has always been the first to come through the letter box.
A very happy 41st birthday son. May your special day bring you all the peace, love, and happiness you deserve. All your family love you. Each day that you live, I am more proud of you than the day before. I love you, Matthew and can honestly say as a father that you've never disappointed me. Dad Forde xxx" William Forde: September 10th, 2017.
"Today is my son Matthew's birthday. Matthew is his mother's first child and despite him having a different father to James, Adam, William and Rebecca, the children are as close today as any brother and sister. 'Half-brother' is a term that I would not tolerate hearing from my other children right from the beginning of their relationship with Matthew. It is hard enough trying to establish family unity between children born to different parents when they are thrown together in their youth without inviting any unnecessary fractious division through the common usage of the term 'half-brother', 'half this' or 'half that!'
In fact, I have always considered our Matthew to be blessed with a purity of thought and a simplicity of action that my other four children will never know. His father is a lovely man and all round, our Matthew has been doubly blessed by the two fathers who have always loved him and watched out for him. All my other four children jumped the conventional hoops and ended their education at various universities, whereas our Matthew often struggled to get by in the educational world of the Comprehensive School and reached the finishing tape among the runners from the second half of the competitive field. Since the age of twenty years though, twenty-one years ago, he has always held down his factory job and has been highly thought of by his employers. Today, he lives in his own mortgaged property, has a regular job, pays his weekly bills and maintains an independent lifestyle.
A six-footer with the body muscle and physique to match, Matthew is totally non-aggressive and is one of the nicest people a stranger could ever meet. I think of him as 'The Gentle Giant.' He is generous to a fault and will give anyone his last penny. From all my children, his birthday, Christmas and Father's Day card has always been the first to come through the letter box.
A very happy 41st birthday son. May your special day bring you all the peace, love, and happiness you deserve. All your family love you. Each day that you live, I am more proud of you than the day before. I love you, Matthew and can honestly say as a father that you've never disappointed me. Dad Forde xxx" William Forde: September 10th, 2017.
