Fathers Don't Just Pay the Bills

Fathers Don’t Just Pay the Bills

People seem to form stereotypes for almost everything, and having the stereotypical idea of a father is no exception. TV has gone from the idea that dad is the head of the family to dad is the joke of the family. Yet, the reality is that fathers play a necessary role in helping to shape their children’s’ lives. Why do kids need fathers? In her article “Women and the Future of Fatherhood”, Barbara Whitehead discusses the importance of fatherhood. Whitehead stresses that a good mother is important, but “even the best mothers cannot be good fathers” (Whitehead np). Fathers are essential in their children’s lives because they act as positive role models and assist the mother in childcare while also developing unique relationships with their kids.

No matter how hard fathers try to avoid it, their maternal instincts to protect, support, and love their son or daughter will eventually emerge. These newly earned maternal instincts will cause a bond to be formed between father and child. Whether it is when they see their newborn son or daughter first smile or if it is later in life when he is teaching the child how to ride a bike, fathers develop a natural tie with their children. This connection is unique and cannot be replaced, not even by the mother. Yes, a mother can try to act as the father, but the distinctive relationship cannot be substituted. One example is the different ways that parents would teach their kid to ride a bike. If the mother were to teach their baby how to ride, she would spend too much time worrying about possible bruises or broken limbs. Eventually, the child would learn to ride, but it would be with a lot of fear and frustration from both the mother and the kid. However, the father would give their child a lot more independence to learn on his or her own. He would act mainly as support when he or she needed it. Instead of telling their child what to worry about on the bike, dad lets the kid learn on his or her own. This story is just one of the many ways that mother and father differ in their parenting techniques. However, each parent’s unique teaching style beneficial for the child in the long-run. Wade Horn, a journalist at the St. Croix Review, researched the importance that each parent plays in a child’s life. When comparing both of the child’s parents the common theme was “fathers are more challenging when it comes to achievement, independence, and risk-taking” (Horn 12). Having that distinctive relationship between father and child helps their son or daughter to grow into an independent, confident individual. The bond that is formed between father and child is irreplaceable and crucial for a child to develop into an adult.

Of course, the topic that must also be discussed is abusive parents. Is a child better off living with a father who is abusive? In this case, growing up in a violent family is not safe