The results from science are in—involved, loving fathers do matter. I’m puzzled by feminists that remain embittered with men and claim fathers aren’t a necessity. Reveling in victim status and discounting the importance of the other half of population isn’t being pro-woman at all. The saner of us can recognize that single moms are heroic, and still understand the impact of fathers in our lives. Fatherhood is one of the best gifts to both our sons and daughters alike. So we picked out portions from our favorite columns that reflect on Father’s Day. Browse through them and think about how fatherhood brings out the best in all of us.
Psychology Today points out the importance of dad during adolescence:
Dads become especially critical during adolescence. Generally, says Flanery, "fathers are better at setting limits with teenage boys. I've seen it in my practice. Teenage boys, who are on the brink of losing control, calm down quite a bit by having their dads show up. It can keep things from escalating further."
Important as fathers are to sons, they may be even more important to the development and behavior of teenage daughters. Girls are twice as likely as boys to become depressed after puberty.
Flanery contends that the mood changes are often linked to estrangement from Dad. Girls are "looking to Dad to give them a clue about guys. But they miss out if Dad isn't there."
In addition, the quality of the relationship between a teenage daughter and her father is predictive of the quality of a committed relationship she will have in her young adult years.
From the Toledo Blade:
Kyle Pruett, noted child psychiatrist, says that kids with engaged fathers demonstrate a greater ability to take initiative and evidence self-control. When these boys grow up, they are more likely to be good dads themselves.
There is conclusive evidence that high levels of attention and interaction with fathers produce children who are more confident and less anxious when placed in unfamiliar settings, better able to deal with frustration, better able to cope with changing circumstances and breaks from their routine, and better able to gain a sense of independence and an identity outside the mother-child relationship.
And the Chicago Sun-Times:
[…] if you turn on your television today, fathers on recent sitcoms like "Everybody Loves Raymond," "Still Standing" and "According to Jim" portray men as the lowest form of family member. They are childish, needy, whiny and altogether hopeless. Laughs are generally at their expense, and sitcom wives must stoically indulge their husbands' stupidity. Whether you are a fan of these shows or not, you have to wonder: Are fathers really so useless to the modern nuclear family?
Definitely not. As much as we love to laugh at the hijinks of these dim-witted sitcom daddies, the importance of fathers in the lives of their children is no laughing matter. Studies have shown that children who have actively involved fathers do much better academically. Children with actively involved fathers are also much less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, live in poverty or develop psychological issues. These studies prove that having a good father is not a luxury -- it is a necessity.
Finally, from the Yakima-Herald:
One of the best things any father can do for his children is to have a stable and loving marriage relationship. By nurturing his marriage, he models the skills his children will need for a successful marriage in the future. One way a dad can show love to his wife is by helping with child care. Carla Cantor, a freelance writer who specializes in health and family matters writes, "Dad's engagement makes both parents feel more fulfilled and enhances their marriage. And that's important: Studies show that a stable, harmonious marital relationship is one of the greatest gifts parents can bestow on their kids."
When the marital relationship is full of devotion, love will spill over into the home. The old saying still holds true: "The greatest thing a man can do for his children is to love their mother!"
To say the impact of my father on my own life is profound is an understatement. The belief I could succeed at anything, and the importance of hard work, perseverance, loyalty, and integrity—our vulnerability to frailty and the importance of forgiveness—all this, I learned from my father.
Happy Father’s Day, Dad.
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