Few relationships can compare to the bond between a father and his daughter. There is something magical about being "daddy's little girl". This past weekend, we had the opportuntiy to experience two endearing fathers who really got into the Whole Princess Party idea with their daughters!
According to experts, today's fathers need to understand how important they are in the lives of their daughters and work hard to overcome the obstacles in order establish strong bonds. For one thing, the relationship between a father and daughter is a blueprint of sorts for how that daughter will perceive and relate to men now and for the rest of her life.
"In some ways, it's easy to develop a father-daughter bond," says Jeff Sherrill, a psychologist with Meers Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. "Fathers are often drawn to their cute little girls who sometimes succeed in twisting their dads around their little fingers. But such a bond will only develop if dads are attentive and take the time to nurture their daughters."
Jolie Brams, a Columbus-area clinical psychologist, says that dads need to take this nurturing business seriously, for reasons that extend beyond the obvious. For example, how a father fathers his daughter will dictate not only how the daughter will view fathers but men in general. The bond will affect -- for better or worse -- her friendships, romances, and work relationships well into adulthood.
For instance, a girl who views her dad as nothing more than an authority figure is likely to see all men in the same light.
"If that's the case, a daughter might grow up to see herself in a one-down position in future romances. In the workplace, she might be unable to discern whether or not a boss is being fair or how much to tolerate from him," says Brams. "What we are really looking at here is how young girls think of men and how men should be. The relationship she has with her dad will set the tone for all these things." (Taken from Columbus Parent Magazine February 2008)
We found a really great organization called Dads and Daughters:
Dads and Daughters, the national advocacy non-profit for fathers and daughters whose mission is to inspire fathers to actively engage in the lives of daughters, has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of fathers and daughters with outstanding educational resources and advocacy work supporting fathers’ involvement in girls’ lives.
Dads and Daughters is committed to promoting supportive and healthy father-daughter relationships and providing tools and advocacy to help girls increase their self esteem and give them greater opportunities for self-fulfillment. DADs is further committed to transform the pervasive cultural messages that hyper-sexualize, devalue and degrade women and girls and is an active and effective advocate for educational equity, prevention of eating disorders, ending marketing to children, and other important children’s issues. Dads and Daughters publishes the award-winning newsletter, Daughters: For Parents of Girls, the only newsletter for parents about raising healthy daughters - www.daughters.com - and is read by tens of thousands of parents and adults who work with girls around the world.
Learn more about DADs by contacting:
Dads and Daughters, PO Box 3110, Duluth, MN 55803.
www.DadsandDaughters.org , email: info@dadsanddaughters.org ,
telephone: 1-218-722-3942
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