---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My dad was an absentee dad, so it was…"
description: "\"My dad was an absentee dad, so it was always important to me that I was part of my daughter's life, and she deserved two parents, which is part of the ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/samuel-l-jackson-3595_behinds_my-dad-was-an-absentee-dad-so-it-was-alw_1779447.jpg"
---

#  My dad was an absentee dad, so it was always important to…

![“My dad was an absentee dad, so it was always important to me that I was part of my daughter's life, and she deserved two parents, which is part of the rationale behind us staying married for 30 years.” quote by Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/samuel-l-jackson-3595_behinds_my-dad-was-an-absentee-dad-so-it-was-alw_1779447.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/samuel-l-jackson-3595_behinds_my-dad-was-an-absentee-dad-so-it-was-alw_1779447.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/samuel-l-jackson-3595_behinds_my-dad-was-an-absentee-dad-so-it-was-alw_1779447.jpg)

> “My dad was an absentee dad, so it was always important to me that I was part of my daughter's life, and she deserved two parents, which is part of the rationale behind us staying married for 30 years.”

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A father’s absence motivated a commitment to being present for his child, sustaining a long marriage.

**In simple terms:** Absence drove commitment to family.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize active involvement.

Themes

family commitment absence

Mood

thoughtful hopeful

Type

personal inspirational

When to use this quote

- marriage
- parenting
- family counseling

Key Concepts

relationship dynamics parental responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How does past absence shape present actions?
- What sustains long‑term relationships?

A Different Perspective

Absence may cause resentment.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Daughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/daughter/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Parents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parents/) [Rationale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rationale/)

## Related quotes

> [What's important for my daughter to know is that... if you are fortunate to have opportunity, it is your duty to make sure other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamala-harris/what-s-important-for-my-daughter-to-know-is-that-if-you-are-fortunate/)

[Kamala Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamala-harris/)

> [At some point, it's very important to me that my daughter is able to experience life and run through the sprinklers and have slumber…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beyonce-knowles/at-some-point-it-s-very-important-to-me-that-my-daughter-is-able-to/)

[Beyonce Knowles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/beyonce-knowles/)

> [I think it's really important for my daughter to see her parents being physically fit and for that to be a part of her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-ortiz/i-think-it-s-really-important-for-my-daughter-to-see-her-parents/)

[Ana Ortiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-ortiz/)

> [The way I was raised, family was always the most important. When I had our first daughter, Natasha, I knew that's what I wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-way-i-was-raised-family-was-always-the-most-important-when-i-had/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Speaking from experience, because I have three daughters, I think it's always important to give your daughter the confidence that she needs so that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-charvet/speaking-from-experience-because-i-have-three-daughters-i-think-it-s/)

[David Charvet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-charvet/)

> [In my career there's many things I've won and many things I've achieved. But my greatest achievement is my family. What matters is being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/in-my-career-there-s-many-things-i-ve-won-and-many-things-i-ve-2/)

[David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/)

> [When I come home, I'm not a basketball player, but "dad". While everyone sees me as an NBA player, to my boys, I'm just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwyane-wade/when-i-come-home-i-m-not-a-basketball-player-but-dad-while-everyone/)

[Dwyane Wade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwyane-wade/)

> [Being a dad is more important than football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-beckham/being-a-dad-is-more-important-than-football/)

[David Beckham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-beckham/)

> [Being a dad is my most important job because it not only affects my children, but their children and many generations to come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-dominik/being-a-dad-is-my-most-important-job-because-it-not-only-affects-my/)

Mark Dominik

> [Kids need a mom and a dad, and people understand that. Marriage between a mom and a dad is most important for kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-huelskamp/kids-need-a-mom-and-a-dad-and-people-understand-that-marriage-between/)

[Tim Huelskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-huelskamp/)

> [I always wanted children, to be a dad. That was as important to me as being an actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-grey/i-always-wanted-children-to-be-a-dad-that-was-as-important-to-me-as/)

[Joel Grey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-grey/)

> [Being a husband and a dad are the two most important things in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-o-loughlin/being-a-husband-and-a-dad-are-the-two-most-important-things-in-my-life/)

[Alex O'Loughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-o-loughlin/)

> [I don't have the privilege of time to meet everyone all the time. But, I've always said that my dad is one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shruti-haasan/i-don-t-have-the-privilege-of-time-to-meet-everyone-all-the-time-but/)

[Shruti Haasan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shruti-haasan/)

> [“I think . . . you should have children, John." At least he's no longer talking about bugs. "I'm too young, Dad." "It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-hegi/i-think-you-should-have-children-john-at-least-he-s-no-longer-talking/)

[Ursula Hegi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-hegi/)

> [I want to be a dad, so it's important for me to have a partner who would play a key role in that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-scott/i-want-to-be-a-dad-so-it-s-important-for-me-to-have-a-partner-who/)

[Jonathan Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-scott/)

## More by Samuel L. Jackson

> [I'm sure there are a lot of Italians who refer to themselves as goombahs and greaseballs and whatever. That's what people do. It gives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-m-sure-there-are-a-lot-of-italians-who-refer-to-themselves-as/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [Take a stand for what's right. Raise a ruckus and make a change. You may not always be popular, but you'll be part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/take-a-stand-for-what-s-right-raise-a-ruckus-and-make-a-change-you/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [Quentin Tarantino was talking about Ordell a little bit, and I was like, "I'm sure Ordell is one of those people who thought Superfly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/quentin-tarantino-was-talking-about-ordell-a-little-bit-and-i-was/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [ I grew up in the South with guns everywhere and we never shot anyone. This \[shooting\] is about people who aren't taught the value… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-grew-up-in-the-south-with-guns-everywhere-and-we-never-shot-anyone/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [“Hold on to your butts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/hold-on-to-your-butts/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [I was desperate on Coming To America set - not to buy drugs or anything, but I had a person at home, a girlfriend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-was-desperate-on-coming-to-america-set-not-to-buy-drugs-or-anything/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [Jackson doesn't bother to read the scripts anymore. He just checks to make sure he has one loud scene where he gets to shout,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/jackson-doesn-t-bother-to-read-the-scripts-anymore-he-just-checks-to/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [Because of where I come from, I never thought I'd see in my life a black candidate running for President.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/because-of-where-i-come-from-i-never-thought-i-d-see-in-my-life-a/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [When you start to talk about comic books, a lot of the time, people forget about the comic part of it. They need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/when-you-start-to-talk-about-comic-books-a-lot-of-the-time-people/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [I guess the worst day I have had was when I had to stand up in rehab in front of my wife and daughter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-guess-the-worst-day-i-have-had-was-when-i-had-to-stand-up-in-rehab/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [I understood, through rehab, things about creating characters. I understood that creating whole people means knowing where we come from, how we can make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-understood-through-rehab-things-about-creating-characters-i/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [When the riots happened in L.A., they didn't go to Beverly Hills to trash Rodeo Drive. They trashed their own neighborhoods. It's one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/when-the-riots-happened-in-l-a-they-didn-t-go-to-beverly-hills-to/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [If you have an opportunity to use your voice you should use it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/if-you-have-an-opportunity-to-use-your-voice-you-should-use-it/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [What kills me is that everybody thinks I like Jazz.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/what-kills-me-is-that-everybody-thinks-i-like-jazz/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

> [I think the biggest challenges for franchises are keeping them fresh and exciting, and most times, you need a good bad guy to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/i-think-the-biggest-challenges-for-franchises-are-keeping-them-fresh/)

[Samuel L. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

[Explore all 126 Samuel L. Jackson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/)

## More Behinds quotes

> [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/)

[Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/)

> [Behind every successful child is an adult who believed in him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/behind-every-successful-child-is-an-adult-who-believed-in-him/)

[Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/)

> [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [Time is painted with a lock before, and bald behind, signifying thereby that we must take time by the forelock; for, when it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-swift/time-is-painted-with-a-lock-before-and-bald-behind-signifying-thereby/)

[Jonathan Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-swift/)

> [God hides Himself behind causes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-rollin/god-hides-himself-behind-causes/)

[Charles Rollin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-rollin/)

> [Home is behind, the world ahead, And there are many paths to tread Through shadows to the edge of night, Until the stars are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/home-is-behind-the-world-ahead-and-there-are-many-paths-to-tread/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Behind every word flows energy. If you use your words to gossip or babble about what you are going to do before you do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-choquette/behind-every-word-flows-energy-if-you-use-your-words-to-gossip-or/)

[Sonia Choquette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-choquette/)

> [With the realization of God comes all power. If the little wave knew that behind it is the great ocean, it could say, "I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paramahansa-yogananda/with-the-realization-of-god-comes-all-power-if-the-little-wave-knew/)

[Paramahansa Yogananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paramahansa-yogananda/)

> [Conservatism is not about leaving people behind. Conservatism is about empowering people to catch up, to give them the tools at their disposable that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/conservatism-is-not-about-leaving-people-behind-conservatism-is-about/)

[Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/)

> [And the seasons they go 'round and 'round And the painted ponies go up and down We're captive on the carousel of time We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/and-the-seasons-they-go-round-and-round-and-the-painted-ponies-go-up/)

[Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/)

> [It is worthwhile for anyone to have behind him a few generations of honest, hard-working ancestry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-worthwhile-for-anyone-to-have-behind-him-a-few-generations-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm really thankful to God, man. Like now, I'm really making a real comeback with my group. With or without a record, with or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ike-turner/i-m-really-thankful-to-god-man-like-now-i-m-really-making-a-real/)

[Ike Turner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ike-turner/)

> [Empires fall, ids explode, great symphonies are written, and behind all of it is a single instinct that demands satisfaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherwin-b-nuland/empires-fall-ids-explode-great-symphonies-are-written-and-behind-all/)

[Sherwin B. Nuland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherwin-b-nuland/)

> [ Just between you and me, shouldn’t the World Bank be encouraging MORE migration of the dirty industries to the LDCs \[Less Developed Countries\]?... I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-summers/just-between-you-and-me-shouldn-t-the-world-bank-be-encouraging-more/)

[Lawrence Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-summers/)

> [After a few mouthfuls of moon-flavored air, even the stubbornly drowsy can find themselves wide-eyed.. All the normal noises of life were gone, leaving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/after-a-few-mouthfuls-of-moon-flavored-air-even-the-stubbornly-drowsy/)

[N.D. Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-d-wilson/)

Browse all 6,789 Behinds quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "My dad was an absentee dad, so it was always important to me that I was part of my daughter's life, and she deserved two parents, which is part of the rationale behind us staying married for 30 years.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Samuel L. Jackson"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/my-dad-was-an-absentee-dad-so-it-was-always-important-to-me-that-i/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Behinds"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/my-dad-was-an-absentee-dad-so-it-was-always-important-to-me-that-i/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/samuel-l-jackson-3595_behinds_my-dad-was-an-absentee-dad-so-it-was-alw_1779447.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/samuel-l-jackson-3595_behinds_my-dad-was-an-absentee-dad-so-it-was-alw_1779447.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ce/samuel-l-jackson-3595_behinds_my-dad-was-an-absentee-dad-so-it-was-alw_1779447.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“My dad was an absentee dad, so it was always important to me that I was part of my daughter's life, and she…” — Samuel L. Jackson",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Samuel L. Jackson",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-l-jackson/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "My dad was an absentee dad,...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/my-dad-was-an-absentee-dad-so-it-was-always-important-to-me-that-i/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-l-jackson/my-dad-was-an-absentee-dad-so-it-was-always-important-to-me-that-i/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
