Creating Awareness for Shared Parenting: DADS CAN TOO, Jesse West Sr.

Jesse West Sr., is founder and President of the DADS CAN TOO organization and Facebook page, established in 2016.

Jesse West Sr. is a devoted father and dedicated co-parent.

On DADS CAN TOO, a striking feature of his page is the personal name. Jesse West added ‘Sr.’ when becoming a father. Notably, Sr. is just one of the ways Jesse West Sr. parents and creates a legacy for his son.

He became involved in the shared parenting arena the way many parents do, by experiencing divorce.

Jesse West Sr. is soft-spoken, mild mannered and a dominant force in the shared parenting arena. His efforts are creating a legacy of hard work and perseverance in support of equal shared parenting. He works tirelessly at creating awareness for DADS CAN TOO.

“I am working hard to show we are family, the importance of a family, and even a broken family can still be good. Making the best of the situation rather than fight. The child wants to be able to love mom and dad and be picked up from school and read stories at night with both parents.”

“Everything I do is to be available for my son. I work jobs around the clock when not with him.”

“Your child walks up gives you a big hug and says I love you daddy…you cannot replace that. So many are missing out on what they could have if the laws were equal with shared parenting. All the money spent on court that could be used for vacations or birthdays and make life more enjoyable and not stressing out (on) how to do this or that or the next court date. This is more about opportunities to make memories with both members of the family.”

“This is about smiles, hugs, making memories and the unexplainable joy of just being happy.”

Jesse West Sr. demonstrates respect for the mother of their son. “She is still the mother of my child and to have that role is the way it should be. I let her know, “thank you for being the mother of my child” and let him pick out a gift and at least send a message of “Happy Mothers Day” and “thank you for being a good mother.”” He does the same for her on birthdays and Christmas.

Excitingly, both parents celebrated the 7th birthday of their son together. “First time doing so, was so great to finally co-parent”.

Jesse proudly shares his son “has a toy lawn mower, toy blower and trimmer and follows me around the yard. He doesn’t see this as a chore because he’s doing what daddy’s doing. We’re making memories. He even puts his toy mower on my lawn equipment trailer, just like I do. I learned plumbing, drywall, electrical and even carpentry from watching and helping my dad, all before age 18.”

Jesse takes his responsibilities to a higher level claiming “Another reason to keep on going and knowing this is an uphill battle is because this is not just my voice. I am now speaking for millions of children and non-custodial parents all over the world. This brings joy, extra energy and reassurance that what we are doing is right. This is great to be in a position to speak for these people.”

Jesse West Sr. is often recognized because he is usually wearing DADS CAN TOO gear . “We’re having a great day in St Louis and the extra special moment was when this guy Steven F., a father, going through the struggle like millions of us across the country saw me and said “hey I’m DADS CAN TOO as well. I follow your page and I’m just glad to meet you.” It’s a wonderful feeling being recognized by people especially when in another state. I wish I could make everyone see that what we’re doing for children all over the country is what’s right. But every time I’m stopped by a person I’ve never met it gives me so much joy in knowing I’m doing my part. And everything I can do to bring change.”

On another occasion Jesse states “While stopped in traffic a (tearful) parent came up to me stating “I thought that was you and just wanted to say thank you for standing up for fathers.”

DADS CAN TOO has a coin with “DADS CAN TOO” on one side “YES WE CAN” with the logo of the hands of this father and son on the other. Jesse states “this coin can be helpful for parents in despair. When a parent has that moment and doesn’t believe they can go on, the coin is a reminder to never give up. They can hold the coin with “DADS CAN TOO” on one side and turn the coin over with “YES WE CAN” on the other side.”

Endearingly, Jesse West Sr. shares how his son often asks “Can we do our DADS CAN TOO hands”?

Creating Awareness Across the Nation

On a trip to Washington, D.C., DADS CAN TOO was represented in the solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the stunning war memorial, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Taking the concept of creating awareness to a whole new level, Jesse West, Sr. left a memento of DADS CAN TOO in the coin box on a recent trip to the SkyWalk at the Grand Canyon.

Family Fun Events

Jesse West Sr. organizes a Spring and Winter family fun fest including 60+ vendors, face painting, a bounce house, balloon animals and a toy drive for Miracle Network and for families throughout the community.

“We are making a positive message to the media and creating positive awareness of what we are doing. We’re making this about the children and families. Educating and informing others about the importance of family. We’re not perceived as just a bunch of angry dads not wanting to pay child support.”

More events include:

Springfield Jr. Blues Hockey player, Brandon Puricelli, #22, with the DADS CAN TOO name on his jersey.

A 1^st Place Parade Float (2 years in a row): “Generations of Fun” Tribute to Fathers.

Adopt a Highway in Illinois and Massachusetts.

Annual DADS CAN TOO night for the Springfield Sliders and the Springfield Jr. Blues.

For a list of all events go to: DADS CAN TOO

In addition to special events and creating awareness with daily activities, he is involved at a media and legislative level by being at the capitol, and participates in committee meetings to discuss why equal shared parenting is essential.

“This is about respecting the other parent and working on having the world come together to make a better environment for children. Forgetting the madness and hate and take one step at time.”

Jesse West Sr. acknowledges how the system should change, claiming “This is sad and the system pushes fathers to the breaking point.” For some parents his efforts are life-altering. “I have taken phone calls in the middle of the night from parents who may not have survived if I had not taken the call.”

He wants to change the world’s perception of men; “We’re not a bunch of angry men who don’t want to pay child support. We’re fathers who just want equal opportunities to see and love our children. “DADS CAN TOO, three little words to some mean nothing, but to many, means everything.”

As Jesse West Sr. with DADS CAN TOO says “The time for change is now… are you doing everything you can do to help us?”

While Jesse West, Sr. has experienced a long journey toward shared parenting, everything has turned out for the better. Jesse West, Sr. is now with a supportive woman, the mother of his newest child, Jaymie, born earlier this year. He relishes spending time with his almost nine-year-old son and imparting fatherly knowledge. In his spare time, Jesse West, Sr. enjoys spending time with family and traveling.