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By Movieguide® Staff
Former NFL star Benjamin Watson is praising the U.S. government for their recent decision to raise child tax credits.
“Too often, motherhood and fatherhood are misunderstood or discarded altogether,” he wrote in an op-ed for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “Congress recently raised the CTC from $2,000 to $2,200 per child and indexed it for inflation — a statement that we value the hard work of parenting.”
Watson continued, “It’s diapers, groceries, rent — and a reminder to struggling families: we see you, and you’re not alone.”
He also mentioned the 45S Paid Leave Tax Credit for employers, which was recently extended to $5.5 billion. This program means companies can offer their employees, male and female, paid time off following the birth of a child.
Related: Why Former NFL Star Benjamin Watson Calls on Men to Join Pro-Life Movement
“Undoubtedly, there’s more we can do to truly empower parents,” Watson continued, mentioning expanded healthcare programs for pregnant women and children. “Strong families build strong communities. Every child — born or preborn — is wanted, cherished, and deeply loved.”
Watson often talks about the important role fathers play in their children’s lives, encouraging men to be active and supportive parents.
“The overwhelming feeling that I have is that a lot of men feel it’s not their place to be involved in certain things because that’s what they’re being told,” Watson said in an interview with Andscape. “And my contention is that you do have a role in pregnancy. You do have a role while the child is here and before the child gets here. You do have a role in creating a relationship with the mother that would most benefit the child when the child gets here because, whether you like it or not, you’re a dad already. The baby just hasn’t come out yet, but you’re already a father.”
He explored the topic in his 2017 book, “The New Dad’s Playbook,” telling The Christian Post, “I want men to be empowered to enter into this thing not just winging it, but having a plan on how to attack pregnancy by supporting the mother of their child through this process and then go out and execute the game plan. That’s why I call it the playbook.”
“As a husband, as a father, I am the initial entry idea to what our Heavenly Father is to my children. While I’m going to be flawed in my representation of their Heavenly Father and I’m going to screw this thing up royally, I have the great privilege of being their first introduction to the fact that they have a Heavenly Father,” Watson continued. “When I engage with them I want to be loving with them but also be merciful, just [and] I have to discipline them. It’s a tremendous honor and responsibility to be a dad.”
Watson’s recent op-ed showcases the value that the US government is placing on parenthood, supporting moms and dads who want to be present for their children.
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