Many families today are broken—some single mothers have to take on the role of both mom and dad, while some single fathers also carry the weight of being both parents.

I have deep respect for single parents; raising children alone is no easy task. With all the noise surrounding the ongoing feud between Dennis Padilla, his ex-wife Marjorie Barretto, and their children, I couldn’t help but feel triggered.

For years, I’ve seen headlines about Dennis Padilla claiming to be ignored by his kids, often painting himself as the victim. Meanwhile, his children and Marjorie remained silent, offering no public response. It made me wonder—what exactly happened? Did Marjorie influence the children to turn away from him?

But now that Marjorie has finally spoken up in an interview with Ogie Diaz, things are becoming clearer. I understand why the kids have been distant.

If you were an abusive, narcissistic husband and father who failed to provide financial support, how can you expect your children to embrace you with open arms and place you on a pedestal? Yes, the Bible teaches us to “Honor your father and mother,” but parents—don’t make it so hard for your children to honor you.

Simply being a parent doesn’t automatically entitle you to respect—respect is earned, not given. Children didn’t ask to be born, and they certainly didn’t get to choose their parents.

If a daughter, who never had the chance to build a strong relationship with her father, still chooses to invite him to her wedding, that gesture alone speaks volumes. It shows she has set aside her pride and offered respect by acknowledging him and including him in one of the most important days of her life.

For a father to expect a red carpet welcome or special treatment in that moment is nothing short of delusional. And to then take to social media to air grievances, bash his children, and criticize his ex-wife—those actions can’t be justified.

A real father is selfless. He understands that the wedding is not about him—it’s about his daughter and her happiness.

To all the fathers who walked away from their families—before you ask for love, forgiveness, or respect, make sure you’ve done everything to earn it. (Crying on social media doesn’t count)