By A.J. Dugger III
On September 14 at Fisk University, Teddy Thompson will graduate from Nashville’s New Life Program, an organization that assists fathers who are struggling financially, mentally and spiritually.
Thompson has five children and got married last year. In his short time in the program, Thompson says he learned a lot. “I
love the program. I wish I could go longer so I could learn more about it,” he said in an interview. “I found out that I can better my life. Now I’m married, and I know I can be a better all around husband and father.”
Thompson is a Nashville native. He graduated from McGavock High School in 1989. He found out about The New Life Program at a job fair he attended. When he initially joined the program, he had no idea how much he would learn.“ They are professional. They break it down so we can understand it. It doesn’t matter where you come from or how you grow up. It’s about how you teach your child.”
Out of Thompson’s five children, four of them have different mothers. One thing that Thompson has cleverly avoided is what people call “baby mama drama.” “If they (the other parent) call and tell me what the child needs, if I don’t have it, I’ll get it,” he explained. “The men have to step up and tell the other parent that we want our child to be better than us. The child reflects and hears everything that we say.”
Thompson says communication is a must. “Make sure you’re communicating with the child’s mother. Both of you have to be on the same page. Communication is the number one key. I t’s not about you, it’s about the child.”
Thompson credits the program with changing his outlook on life. “I look at things differently. You don’t have to look at things negative. You look at things positive on both sides and let things go. It helped me out a whole lot.”
Of Thompson’s five children, four are females and one is a male. Two are grown. One is a recent college graduate and the
other will graduate next year. Thompson is proud that his children are making something out of their lives, which he wishes more children would do. In fact, this coincides with his plans after graduation.
“I wanna start a program about manners. I want to teach kids to stop sagging their pants, and start saying ‘ Yes ma’am’ and No ma’am.’ Manners take you a long way. Today’s society is so different. Kids today are throwing away their lives.”
Thompson is one of many fathers who credit The New Life Program with improving their outlook on life.