In the last hundred years, like many other advancements and change in conservative thinking of folks, the role of a father in parenting has also changed tremendously. Now he is not a “wise breadwinner” but equally responsible for building his children’s mind and providing them with a sense of security and stability.
- Do fathers really help in parenting?
- Does their presence matter for the mother and children?
- Does their interference in the process of upbringing of children bring long-term positive results?
These questions are important but they may have slightly different answers depending on a particular situation and the role of society in making a family.
Normally, it is seen that no matter how responsible and loving a husband is, when it comes to the responsibility of children, he usually takes a back seat. Why this happens, it is not really understood. But usually societal pressures, burden of work and other factors play a major role in forcing the father to free himself from the enormous task of parenting.
It has been observed that children, especially female children, consider their father as a role model. They are closer to their mother when it comes to the expression of feelings and emotions, but that does not change the respect they have for their father.
There are many aspects of life where a father’s advice is more sound and required by the children than a mother’s. Similarly, men have stronger hold of some subjects of study like mathematics, current affairs, history, computer science, etc. Children often look forward to seeing their father taking interest in their activities, homework and other stuff.
A woman has many other problems to solve and issues to look after. A father should be available to take the children out for a drive every now and again. Similarly, when it comes to attending parent-children meetings in school, a father should take time out of his busy schedule to accompany his wife to school and learn about his children’s performance and progress.
A father has an upper hand when it comes to making decisions about important family matters. If he is not friendly with his children, they will never tell him whether they are satisfied with those decisions or not. When boys reach their age of puberty and need assistance in many matters related to their body, a father is the only best friend they have in whom they can confide.
Usually wives try in vain to make their husbands recognize their role in parenting. This is a serious situation and social programs should be held to make fathers more aware and understand their duties in the context of parenting. It has been seen that children who grow without a father have low self-esteem and lack of confidence.
Just as fathers have come to recognize their role during pregnancy and childbirth, they should also be educated about the important responsibility of becoming a good partner in parenting.