The Paternal Bond Generates Greater Family Happiness

Fathers often believe their involvement as a parent is being judged and scrutinized, leading to a feeling of insecurity and shame. As a consequence, some of them do not value their role as a nurturer/caregiver. For this reason, it is crucial to be as inclusive as possible in our language as a reference to respecting the father's role and participation.

Consequences of Fatherlessness

In a webinar called "Importance of Fatherhood, Engaging Dads in Home Visiting," Project Fatherhood's LeHenry Solomon highlights the following consequences that usually happen in father-absent homes.

-Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school than their classmates who live with two parents.

-70% of the children now incarcerated in juvenile corrections facilities grew up in a single-parent environment.

-Children in father-absent homes are almost four times more likely to be poor.

-80% of adolescents in psychiatric hospitals come from fatherless homes.

-63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (5 times the average).

What Fathers Need to Know

According to a report in Fathers and Their Impact on Children's Well-Being: "Even from birth, children who have an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure, be confident to explore their surroundings, and, as they grow older, have better social connections."

When fathers are involved in their children's lives, especially their education, their children learn more.

Also read: 5 THINGS I WISH NO ONE HAD TOLD ME WHEN MY DAD PASSED AWAY

According to a report titled "A Call to Commitment: Fathers' Involvement in Children's Learning," published in June 2020, "research shows that even very young children who have experienced high father involvement show an increase in curiosity and problem-solving capacity." It's clear that fathers' involvement in their kids' development is crucial for their emotional and mental health.

Engaged Fathers

Solomon explains that self-awareness and sincerity is the most critical factor in engaging fathers.

Dads make a big difference in their children's life. Children who grow up with involved fathers are more likely to succeed at school and have better health and well-being. They are also less likely to get involved in the juvenile justice system and have teen birth.

Nevertheless, fathers often struggle to be involved in their children's lives. Here is key his relationship with the co-parent and the child's mother. The stronger that relationship is -regardless if they're married, living together, or even in a romantic relationship-, the more likely it is if the father is going to be involved in his children's lives.

Fathers often see themselves as the provider, wanting to be able to support their children financially. As a consequence, those who find difficulty finding a job have a hard time making the contributions they would like to their families.

Fathers need to feel that they are important and they matter. They need to have confidence in themselves and their roles as a father. It's beneficial when families create a welcoming environment that is father-inclusive. Fathers as well should deeply care about the well-being f their partners and their children.

In conclusion, knowing that kids feel loved by their fathers is a predictor of young adults' sense of well-being, happiness, and life satisfaction.