‘I would do anything for my son’ - Single dad determined to raise his boy right

When Dwight 'Kevin' Harris was 29 and learnt that he was going to be a father, he thought he was completely prepared for the baby's arrival - until life threw him a surprise.

Initially when his partner did her ultrasound, it appeared to indicate that their 'bun in the oven' was going to be a girl, and although he really wanted a son, Harris wasted no time in splurging on everything pink in preparation for his baby girl's birth.

"At the time, I was working at a clothes store and I was the one to pack out the new stuff when them come. The amount a girl clothes weh mi tek out and buy, all a di nice pretty things. But on the 19th of November when I get the call ... and hear it was a boy, I was like 'Really!' I was happy I got my son," said Harris about the day Adriano, now 18, was born. But what about the pink clothes? He revealed that he later gave two of his friends who had daughters the baby clothes and then purchased clothes for his son.

For the past 10 years, Harris, now 47, has been a single father raising Adriano as he separated from the teen's mother, who lives in Westmoreland. Harris told THE STAR that this was not an easy transition for him, but regardless of the challenges, he has dedicated his life to being a father.

"I would do anything for my son. Sometimes I work seven days a week just to make sure he has everything he needs," said the Waterhouse, St Andrew native, adding that his father was a great role model.

"My father was a good father. He was always there for me, always present, and so I was determined to do the same for my son," Harris said.

"It feel good to be a father. Even this morning (Sunday, which was Father's Day) I had to go to work early. Suh I wasn't there when my son woke up and him call mi and tell mi 'Happy Father's Day, Daddy' and it mek mi day. A him mek mi work suh hard, a him keep mi going," Harris added.

He also told THE STAR that although he loves being a father, he opted to only have one child so that he could provide the best life for his son.

"Mi nuh poor, but mi nuh rich, suh mi afi be responsible. Mi put in the work, and even though sometimes it tiring, mi have to put mi shoulder to the wheel to keep him out of wrong and mek sure seh him have what him need," Harris said. He said that Adriano, who is a past student of Mona High School and currently studying at Youth Reaching Youth to be a chef, makes him proud every day.

"Him mek mi feel good, because I don't have to worry about anything. Nuh friend and company a lead him astray or nothing. Even when I guh to him school when them a have them consultant thing and them ask me, 'You're his father?' mi seh, 'Yeah', them seh 'Keep on doing the work that you're doing. You're doing a good job'; it mek mi feel real good," Harris said.

Adriano put his cooking skills to good use on Sunday by preparing dinner for his dad. He told THE STAR that over the years, his father has not only been his guide, but his biggest supporter in life and in his educational pursuits. He said the best advice he ever received from his dad is to "focus on your work, phone and other things come after. Always focus on your goals".

"I really appreciate him because he's a supportive father that has been here for me. He gives me a lot of support and I just want to keep make him proud," Adriano said.