Letting Dads be Dads – Even When it is Terrifying (Part 1)

Fact 1: Dads may be different – but their “way” is essential

Men sometimes seem like a different species for a reason. Their brains are wired differently, their communication, emotions, and processing patterns are often drastically different … and all of that creates unique strengths and parenting characteristics that our children need.

Let’s look at the data. Many studies going back decades have found that children of involved fathers have better brain development – they are literally smarter, and are more likely to enjoy school. Children of positively involved fathers are less likely to act out and choose risky behaviors – even when the parenting style is more permissive. Kids of involved dads are less likely to have depression. They are more likely to be happy and more likely to be successful in life and love years later. Even when the involved father figure is a step-father rather than the biological father, kids improve on many measures of well-being.

This doesn’t mean that kids who lack a father (or a mother for that matter) are doomed to hardship. And sadly, it doesn’t mean that all fathers will be good ones (just like not all mothers are good ones). But it does mean that if our kids are blessed to have a good father who cares, we have to do our part to ensure that he is able to be the father he is made to be.