Bernie Mac: Comedian, Actor, Family Man and Teacher

Bernie Mac passed away on Saturday, August 9, 2008 at age 50 from complications of pneumonia. When I read the news I was stunned. To most people Bernie will be remembered as a husband, father and great family man, an actor-comedian who lit up the room when he walked in. To me he is all of that and much, much more. Bernie, through his sit-com, The Bernie Mac Show taught me how to be a good step-parent.

One day while I was channel surfing I came upon the Bernie Mac Show. Within just a few minutes I was hooked. This funny, irreverent show was about an African American well-to-do, childless couple. Bernie Mac plays Bernie, a stand up comedian married to Wanda, a beautiful, career minded wife whose life is great until Bernie suddenly inherits 3 kids. His sister in Chicago is living in the projects and has a serious drug dependency problem so he steps in and brings his nephew, Jordan and 2 nieces, Vanessa and Bryana to California. The Bernie Mac Show was all about trying to adjust to this new, ready made family and the love and compassion that is learned along the way. I watched every episode, and then again in the reruns.

I don't have any natural born children. I like kids, but never wanted any of my own. All that changed when I met, fell in love with and married a man who has 4 children from a previous marriage. I had no clue on how to deal with kids, let alone their growing pains. The Bernie Mac Show showed me that it's normal to occasionally think evil thoughts when kids are acting out. Bernie would verbalize his frustration when he was alone, talking to "America" about his nephew Jordan, saying: "I'm gonna kill that boy". He would lament to "America" when his niece, Vanessa would go behind his back to his wife Wanda to let her do something that Bernie had already told her she couldn't do. He would turn a stressful situation into something funny which helped me to understand that I shouldn't take things so seriously at times. Bernie, as the uncle turned dad, had no clue whatsoever on how to handle certain situations because he had no experience, but he learned along the way. I learned that it's OK to make parenting mistakes, that family is important and that love always grows over time. Somehow, this brilliant man taught me, that kids will be kids.

To Bernie's wife, daughter and extended family I send my deepest condolences. I hope that they can find some comfort in the fact that he touched so many lives with his special brand of comedy that taught so many important life lessons.

Bernie Mac, RIP.