Marvin Sapp’s 2007 record-breaking single “Never Would Have Made It“ is a testament that can be applied to the Gospel singer’s transition into life as a single dad.
Since the death of his wife, MaLinda, in 2010 due to complications from colon cancer, Sapp’s journey as a single father has been both “challenging and rewarding.” He has been raising his two daughters, MiKaila, 19, and Madisson, 17, and son, Marvin Jr., 22, while navigating his career as a pastor, artist and entrepreneur.
The 49-year-old said he initially felt inadequate and too grief stricken to take on the challenge of being a single dad who would have to face the challenges of raising his kid’s through their adolescence alone. Ultimately, Sapp said he ended up setting his personal objectives aside to make his children his number one priority. As a result, Sapp is now well-adjusted and thriving as two of his children are college students currently enrolled at Howard University and Alabama A&M University, respectively. He has also extended his parenting skills through his involvement with Western Michigan’s first K-12 charter school, Grand Rapids Ellington Academy of Arts and Technology (GREAAT) — where his late wife was a co-founder.
To commemorate the annual celebration of Father’s Day, Sapp opened to The Huffington Post about what it’s like being a single dad, his thoughts on the negative stereotypes out there about black dads, and he shared some advice to all the men out there who may be adjusting to single fatherhood.
The Huffington Post: After your wife’s passing, what was your initial reaction to becoming a single father?
Marvin Sapp: It was a shock, just simply because I had to try figure it out while I was trying to heal at the same time. And when you’re dealing with the whole process and aspect of mourning, as a single father I had to put my personal emotions on the back-burner in order to make sure I was raising healthy young people. So it was a time of literally prioritizing, “Am I going to deal with my emotions, right now, or can I just put my emotions to the side and make sure that I’m raising healthy, productive young people?” So it was a time of prioritizing and going back and forth. And I think I did pretty well. My kids are well-rounded, they’re healthy, they’re doing exceptionally well, and I think that I’m doing well emotionally, also.
What were some of the challenges of raising them during a period where they’re dealing with dating, menstrual cycles and prepping for college?
Man, that was the challenge. Boys are different. I was a boy, so it was kind of easy with my son, but with the girls I had to tap into the maternal side and be a little more sensitive, and going to the store and purchasing things that I’ve never had to purchase before. Doing a lot of Googling and reading about cramps and things of that nature so that I can have some understanding of what my daughters were going through. And also having those very direct conversations with them about dating. I couldn’t depend upon their mother to be there and I just had to, for the sake of a better word, “man up” and have those direct conversations with them about what my expectations were as their father. And also, if they desired or decided to make decisions that were contrary to what I taught them, to be open and honest enough to have that conversation with me.
READ MORE: huffingtonpost.com
