Today we celebrate the Day of the father by being grateful for everything that he did for us. It is true that babies doesn’t come with instructions and neither does the educational system prepare us for the role of dad.
The good news is that today there is a lot of information, books, workshops, courses, that can prepare you for the role of father. For those of you who do not have good experiences with your father, it is advisable to work through psychotherapy in your relationship with your father, in the patterns that you can continue to repeat with your children. You can stop this chain of abuse, harmful behaviors and establish a healthy relationship with your children.
Here are some of the impacts that fathers have on their children:
Identification model
The father is a very important role of identification for his sons. Son learns about the role of men in society by observing his father’s verbal and non-verbal behavior.
In families where there is no father, the children find another model of man around them that serves as a model of identification (grandfather, uncle …)
Self-esteem
When father is present and caring, his children develop a strong and positive image of themselves and often become more confident in their abilities.
Father play a key role in the psychological development of their children from the moment they are born. The difference between a loving and caring father and an absent father can have a huge impact on the way a child grows up.
The image of the body
If the father emits verbal or non-verbal signals that the appearance of women is what defines her, the daughter can develop a negative body image, it can even be a factor that leads to the development of eating disorders.
By showing unconditional love to his spouse and daughter, a father can help foster a positive body image in his daughter that will accompany her for much of her life.
Fathers show to their daughters how women deserve to be treated
Although mothers play a fundamental role in the lives of their daughters, much of what women learn about life comes from their fathers. From an early age, daughters become aware of the way their father treats the women, especially their mother.
Father who verbally or physically abuse, neglect, or injure his spouse unknowingly teach his daughters how women deserve to be treated. Most women who end up in abusive relationships later in life, report some form of abuse as children, including witnessing abuse. Fathers who show love to their wives and daughters teach them that women are to be loved, cared for, and treated with respect by the men in their lives.
Anita Chukaleska, psychologist, gestalt psychotherapist