Fathers Must Be Present for Their Children, Not Just Breadwinners

Secretary of the Ministry of Population and Family Development and Principal Secretary of the BKKBN, Budi Setiyono, has reminded the public that children do not particularly care about their parents’ job titles, rank, or career achievements. What they need most, he said, is the presence of their father in their daily lives. “Children actually do not care much about how many meetings we attend or how much wealth we possess. What children remember more is how often we were present when they needed us,” Budi said during a Model Father Movement class on Monday. According to him, the theme of the 2026 National Family Day, ‘Fathers Must Be Present’, must be interpreted substantively, not merely as physical presence. He observed that many parents are very disciplined in fulfilling work obligations but often neglect their children’s emotional needs. “We are very responsive to messages from our superiors, but when a child says, ‘Dad, look at my drawing’, we often reply, ‘Wait a moment, dad is busy with something important’,” he stated. Budi emphasised that no attendance system records a father’s presence at home. Yet, that presence is crucial in determining a child’s future. He also highlighted various youth problems such as brawls, free sex, and street violence, which he believes are inseparable from the lack of family guidance and support. As an example, Budi recounted the story of Mugiono, a pedicab driver from Kendal, Central Java, who successfully sent his daughter to pursue a doctoral education in England and become an academic. “A father’s success is not only measured by the position, rank, or awards he achieves, but by how he is present to accompany his children,” he said. Budi expressed hope that fathers would not only be present during report card distribution or when asked for school fees, but also be emotionally present in every phase of their children’s lives. “When we retire, our positions will change, and our civil servant cards will no longer be valid. But the role of a father will remain attached for life,” he concluded.