| Over the years, there has been a substantial | | | | |
| interest in the role that fathers play in the | | | | To be able to break the cycle, it can be |
| lives of their children. Consider the | | | | helpful for fathers to reflect on how they |
| following points: | | | | perceived the role of the father growing up, |
| | | | and now as an adult. It may be that the |
| Children who feel a closeness and warmth with | | | | father is acting as an involved father |
| their father are significantly more likely to | | | | according to his perception. An example is |
| enter college, significantly less likely to | | | | the father who works two jobs in order to |
| have a child in their teen years, be | | | | support his family, yet rarely is able to |
| incarcerated, and show various signs of | | | | spend time with his children. |
| depression. The likelihood that a young male | | | | |
| will engage in criminal activity is | | | | Another crucial step is for fathers to be |
| significant if he is raised without a father | | | | able to see the strengths of his children. |
| and even more likely if he lives in a | | | | Sometimes fathers view the success or |
| neighborhood with a high concentration of | | | | perceived inadequacies of a child as a |
| fatherless families. Father involvement is a | | | | reflection of themselves, this is |
| significant factor in developing empathy. | | | | particularly true for a first born male |
| Children of involved fathers are less likely | | | | child. Mothers can help by pointing out the |
| to live in poverty, more likely to receive | | | | individual strengths of each child and |
| healthcare, and less likely to be injured. | | | | collecting a visual record of each child's |
| | | | growth and development. |
| More recent information has found that father | | | | |
| involvement is just as important for the | | | | Just as in an airplane, fathers and mothers |
| behavioral outcomes of boys as girls. | | | | need to take care of themselves physically, |
| | | | spiritually and emotionally, before they can |
| If one or both of your parents was less than | | | | completely care for the rest of the family. |
| adequate, this situation does not have to | | | | While there needs to be balance, everyone |
| impact your own parenting. It is possible to | | | | needs some respite and time to rejuvenate |
| break the cycle of dysfunction or | | | | themselves. Friends are an invaluable |
| uninvolvement. | | | | commodity; often better than therapy. For |
| | | | fathers, sharing of feelings is often through |
| Fathers who are deprived of good fathers in | | | | another activity like poker or watching |
| their own lives are sometimes able to respond | | | | sports. |
| by doing a better job in their own parenting | | | | |
| roles. Also, fathers who simply believe in | | | | Finally, both mothers and fathers need to |
| the importance of fatherhood are more | | | | recognize that each has a unique but crucial |
| involved fathers. | | | | role in the development of their children. |