Go-kart buff Dwight Moore and one of his sons, Sean, in a February 2006 photograph. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer

With Father's Day literally around the corner, many persons are out doing last-minute shopping for their dads. Buying shirts, ties, hankies, colognes or tools of whatever kind are some of the usual gifts. Some children give Dad breakfast in bed, send roses, take him to the movies, to a concert or to a fancy restaurant for dinner. But for others, spending quality time with dad in the outdoors is more fun and meaningful.

So says Dwight Moore, managing director of Worldtron Limited. A father of four - two sons (18 and 19) and two daughters (23 and four months old) - Moore believes one way of beating the deadbeat dad syndrome is being a guide, mentor and a very good example for his sons.

"Parenting is a such a significant role. It is one of the most serious responsibilities that one can partake in. I want my sons to be dominant and successful men.

"My father and grandfather were good role models and I want to teach my sons values that they can share with their own families when the time comes," Moore told Saturday Life.

He is grateful for having his father and grandfather around and vividly recalls spending time with them.

"Both were entrepreneurs. I remember I used to work with my father a lot on weekends and holidays. When I was younger, we used to go for Sunday drives, the occasional barbershop trip or tours and excursions," he said.

Bonding was not a problem for the young Moore. "Where we lived, we had land space to do some farming and backyard gardening. I would help my father and grandfather with chickens, pigs, etc, and it would be time well spent."

Andrew Jackson, auto dealer, mentions his father's carpentry business as his favourite training ground. He explained that he didn't really have a choice but to help, using the time to learn - about his dad and the business.

"I spent a lot of time helping my father in his business and we did a lot of talking," said Jackson.

Moore explains that because of their similar passions, he has no trouble bonding with his sons.

"We have gone go-karting together, been involved in motorsport, participated in charity events like the Kingston to Negril cycling drive for cancer, Relay for Life and Sigma Run. We have trained and done martial arts together," he recalled. Planned trips and sport shooting were also time for sharing and forming deep relationships.

cherishes memories of Dad

Thirty-one-year-old Robert 'BigRob' Miller, adviser to the minister of education, says time with his dad was precious. Though he's no longer alive, Miller cherishes the memories of his dad.

"We used to do stuff, like playing together, but he would talk to me about the facts of life and about girls," he told Saturday Life.

Moore thinks celebrating Father's Day is very important, aside from the symbolism. "There are so many delinquent dads around. Father's Day sets the tone for father-son, father-child and family bonding."

Jackson is a little less sentimental about Father's Day, viewing June's third Sunday as not such a big deal. Instead, he says he uses every opportunity, every day, to form a lasting connection with his two sons, aged 18 and 22.

"We do a little fishing, but it gets boring, so most times, we participate in go-kart races, biking and we talk a lot," said Jackson.

So passionate is Moore about fatherhood that he, through his Dads of Distinction organisation, joined forces with Fathers Inc and has gone into inner-city communities to train and counsel dads.

"There are really good fathers there. Like any other parent, they are stressed by expectations, especially economic expectations, but they lack certain opportunities and this creates pressure for them.

"Some of them just end up running because of this. But I'm quite hopeful there will be a turnaround."

For Moore, this Father's Day marks a special family milestone. "My four-month-old daughter will be christened on Sunday and my father and brothers and all the family will be there," he said with pride.

shaunette.jones@gleanerjm.com