The Importance of Dad's

 Pa, this is my enduring name I have for my dad. I call him this all the time and I have no idea where it started. Fathers all over the world are called so many names such as dad, pops, old man, daddy and padre. No matter what they are called the dad’s in the home have such a profound impact that major studies have been executed and articles written and criticized to determine the real role that a father plays in a family.

             One such article that I just loved was written by Jeffrey Rosenberg and Bradford Wilcox from the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, U.S. Children’s Bureau. The article is called “The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children.” In this article they point out 7 points that are the reasons for a father’s involvement; fostering a positive relationship with the children’s mother, spending time with children, nurturing children, disciplining children appropriately, serving as a guide to the outside world, protecting and providing and serving as a positive role model. I would like to talk about a few of those points.

            First off I love the point that they started off with being fostering a positive relationship with the children’s mother. I love how the man’s wife is his number one. It is by far one of the things about my dad that I really admired, how he treated my mom. Because of that I now see how I would like to be treated by men. I was the lucky girl who saw mommy kissing Santa Clause, saw my parents go through trials, but get through them together and I witnessed the quiet acts of service for each other that my parents loved to perform for each other. It has been told that how a man treats his wife effects how his sons treat women and how their daughters expect to be treated by men. What a huge role!

            Second is also vital; spending time with their children. A very wise man named Dieter F. Uchtdorf said, “In family relationships love is really spelled t-i-m-e.” Yes the view on motherhood is that the woman is in charge of the child’s nurturing and growth, but without the father there as an active participant then the child may feel feelings of neglect, not enough attention and unappreciated. Time with a father is such a special time. A healthy relationship with a father will improve the child’s self-worth and their feeling of being wanted. At least that is how I have felt with my own dad.

            Another great point is disciplining children appropriately. Now, this point is actually dependent upon the type of father. If the mother and father are united on how to discipline the child and how often then it can be very effective. If there are two parents united on one front then it sets the standard for the child and helps them understand their boundaries.

            Ok, let’s move onto being a guide to the outside world. Oh man, is this one underestimated! So kids, they don’t know anything about the world around them. They are like sponges or so I have heard them compared to and they are looking all around them to see what they determine as appropriate, praised, bad and not important. Dads are so vital because look at the world around you now; turn on the T.V. and you will see Victoria Secret and Budweiser commercials, you talk to kids at school and they are confused and lost themselves, you listen to the music and it’s filled with filth and degradation. Dads can take all of these things and teach what to stay away from and what to shoot for. The world doesn’t have to be a totally bad and corruptible place, but you do have to know where to look. I know that my dad provided me with eye opening experiences and worked with me to be able to see the good in the world and how we have the power to help those who are lost.

            Protecting and providing is the next characteristic of a father on our list. I know that there are Mr. Mom’s out there and I’m so not putting them down, but there is just something so attractive about a man who knows how to work hard. Kids need this influence and they also need to feel safe. They actually have a right to feel safe. This role as a father being the one to help those kids feel safe is so vital because it helps them grow and live in an environment that is best suited to their needs. Not only does The Proclamation to the World state that a fathers role is to protect and provide, but society as a whole has adapted to this as far back as we can record.

            The last thing I want to point out is how a father can be a positive role model for their children. If you ask most kids who they want to be like when they grow up they will say mommy or daddy. There is just something about your dad that seems superhuman. They are your hero’s because of who they are. As the child grows this phenomena doesn’t really go away. You may see your dad’s flaws, but they are still that super hero that you always knew.

            How important are father’s? They are irreplaceable. They provide the things that are all listed above and so much more including a best friend, a camping buddy, a horse, a professional tucker inner, ext. There is no dispute, dad’s everywhere, no matter what they are called, are one in a million. Especially my Pa.