I had a heroic mom and wonderful grandparents, who helped raise me and my sister. And it's because of them that I'm able to stand here today. But despite all of their extraordinary love and attention, that doesn't mean that I didn't feel my father's absence. That's something that leaves a hole in a child's heart, that a government can't fill.
President Obama reflects on the impact of his father's absence on his life and emphasizes the importance of parental involvement.
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