Every year in the month
of June many of us get the opportunity to celebrate one of the most important
men in our lives – our dads, daddies, fathers, or whatever our affectionate
name for him may be. Father’s Day is a great day to reflect on the importance of
fathers and how your own father helped you become the person you are today.
Show your father how appreciative you are of him, because you probably don’t
make it a point to show him your gratitude every day. So take this opportunity
to reflect on all the good your father has done for you on this Father’s Day.
Plus: Take our parenting quiz.
If you’ve ever heard the
words, “Just wait until your father gets home,” you probably grew up in a
family where, if you were in trouble, you feared the moment your dad walked
through the door, home from work. Dads are frequently viewed as the go-to parent
for discipline, sound advice and the playtime partner while mothers are the
go-to parent for nurturing, sympathy and comfort from stressful situations. But
fathers matter more than just being the person in the family who may rule with
an iron fist.
Fathers who are
positively involved in their children’s life provide a valuable foundation for
their developmental needs, one that is complementary to what a mother provides.
The role of the father in
the family has never lost its importance, no matter what the trends in society
are. Not nearly as much research has focused on the importance of the
father-child relationship as has the importance of the mother-child
relationship. But what research has been done tells the same story – the
importance of a child having a present and engaged father in his or her life
can’t be underestimated. Research has continuously shown that children with
involved fathers, on average, do better in school, have a greater motivation to
succeed, have higher self-esteem and more confidence in unfamiliar settings,
and are less like to be delinquent or abuse substances like drugs and alcohol.
While these studies can
never speak for everyone, the importance of the role of the father still
remains the same – children are usually better off with a loving, present and
committed father than those with no father to speak of.
To highlight the
importance of fathers, read more about father-daughter relationships and
father-son relationships:
Father-Daughter
Relationships
Fathers matter immensely
in the lives of their daughters. While mothers are generally the nurturing
caretakers and role models for young girls, it’s the fathers who can actually
provide them with a real sense of femininity. The relationship between fathers
and daughters is like the training ground
for what her other male relationships will be like, including the one with her
husband. Fathers provide examples on how to relate to the opposite sex. Fathers
show their daughters that their feelings and ideas count from a male
perspective, and they give their daughters admiration and praise to help grow confidence. They
also say that the first man to fall in love with a woman is her dad. The
importance of this relationship is immeasurable.
Father-Son Relationships
Male children need their
fathers because no matter how wonderful a mother may be, it is the father who
can provide his son with the reinforcement he needs for what it means to be a
man. This can happen when fathers are there for their sons, develop common
interests with them, show them their approval, and set a good example. When
sons are provided with a good example by their fathers, they develop a healthy
gender identity. It is also said that males may also never feel comfortable
loving another man like they love their father, which says that a father-son
bond is a truly special one.
A father’s love goes a
long way in raising a child to be a well-adjusted adult.
As you celebrate your
father on Father’s Day this year, don’t forget to remind him how his love and
presence shaped you to be the person you are today, how you value the
importance of fathers and how you hope he knows just how appreciative you are
of him.
Are You Making Your Child
Fat?
Although you know how
important it is to teach your child healthy habits, it can still be difficult
to make the right choices in a world filled with fast food and sweets. Are you
in control of your child's healthy eating habits,
or could your overly restrictive or permissive parenting style be making your
child fat? Take this parenting quiz to find out. ~ Unknown
