The Importance of a Dad in a Childs Life
Father's Day is this weekend, and it's only fitting that I take a moment to discuss the importance of a father in a child's life.
Fathers, at all levels, play a role in a child’s life that just can't be filled by others. Anyone can father a child, but being a dad takes a lifetime of work. Being a dad takes someone special. This role can have a large impact on a child, and help shape them into the person they become.
Fathers, like mothers, are pillars in the development of a child’s emotional well-being. Children should look to their fathers to lay down the rules and enforce them. They set the guidelines and expectations. They also look to their dads to provide a feeling of security, both physical and emotional. Children naturally want to make their fathers proud. An involved father will promote inner growth and strength. When fathers are affectionate and supportive, a child’s social development grows. It also instills a sense of well-being and self-confidence.
Fathers not only influence who we are inside but how we have relationships with people as we grow. The way a dad treats his child will influence what he or she will look for in others. Friends to eventual partners will be based on the relationship they had with their dad. Patterns set by a father in the relationships with his children help dictate how they relate with other people.
Young girls depend on their fathers for security and emotional support. A father shows his daughter what a healthy relationship with a man looks like. If a father is loving and gentle, his daughter will look for those qualities in others when she’s old enough to begin dating. If a father is strong and valiant, she will relate closely to men of the same character. Girls model their relationships with others based on their father’s character.
Boys model themselves after their father’s character. Boys will seek approval from their fathers from a very young age. As human beings, we grow up by imitating the behavior of those around us; that’s how we learn to function in the world. If a father's caring and treats people with respect, the young boy will grow up much the same. When a father's absent, a young boy looks to other male figures to set the “rules” for how to behave, and survive in the world.
Being a dad isn't an easy job, but it's a worthwhile one. It's important, and it plays a big part in shaping future generations. A father's presence can never be underestimated. This weekend, don’t forget to tell the dad(s) in your life that you love him(them). Thank them for being that someone special.
Mike, The Herdfather
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