Parenting skills are developed over the years through one’s experiences. A fathers plays an important role in the overall development of a child. Dads, as opposed to mothers, are not that much able to express their love for their kids. Thus, they are framed to be more strict. However, it is not completely true. A bit of understanding and the desire to be with their children through all their ups and downs can prove a dad to be a wonderful parent, especially in the teen years. The passages that follow, deal with the relationship shifts that occur between fathers and their teenage children and guide them through the somewhat testing teenage years.
Fathers and teenage daughters
1. Once the daughter enters her teens, often it turns difficult for a dad to be as close to her, as he used to be when she was a kid. At times, dads tend to distance themselves from physical expression of affection like hugging or kissing with the onset of adolescence which may create a misunderstanding in the daughter as of losing her father and foster feelings of depression and anxiety in her. However, this is the time when the daughter needs her parent most, so a good approach is to retain the intimacy and love that existed between both of them.
2. Answering queries on her anatomical or physiological changes, friends, sexuality, beauty etc., may embarrass a father and he may not be that comfortable in addressing the issues. It creates an unwarranted distance intentionally or unintentionally. These situations can be best resolved by either getting books that address the queries and reading them along with your daughter, discussing things at length or alternately taking professional help from parent forums or by consultations with other parents.
3. Listening to one’s daughter while letting her give vent to her emotions and providing guidance and advice when needed, is another effective strategy while dealing with teenage daughter. It helps in boosting her morale and confidence on herself and her decisions. Dads usually play an important role in daughter’s life. A wonderful and understanding relationship is the one that allows easy an communication between dads and daughters and also prepares them for a more independent and competent life ahead.
Dads and sons
1. The relationship between a son and his dad is easier to develop, since both respect space and independence. Shared activities that require good deal of involvement between the fathers and the sons help the sons to curb their aggression, achieve an emotional balance, help them channelize their high energy levels more constructively. It prepares them better to handle the real life situations more effectively in their future lives.
2. The role of dad in the life of a teenage son cannot be less emphasized by the multiple studies conducted on the said subject that reveals how sons become less aggressive, more capable in handling emotional upheavals, managing stress, lowering incidences of depression and maintaining high self esteem, when they share a great relationship with their fathers. Sons learn a lot from their fathers and subconsciously take them as their role models. Thus, if a dad is affectionate and friendly, the son shares the same values with his future family. On the other hand, if the dad is reclusive and introvert, the son adopts the same approach in his future life as well. Hence, the strength of the relationship between the dad and son goes a long way in molding the future life of the son.
3. Often it is believed that since guys are tough they do not require much affection and attention, which is of course a myth that needs to be consciously busted. Besides understanding, the more affectionate and intimate relationship a son has with his dad, the more responsible and compassionate individual he becomes in his life.
4. Teenage is the most difficult stage not only for the child who undergoes it, but also for the parent. Although mothers are more nurturing, caring and always there, whether the children need them or not, dads at this critical point of time either feel they are not needed or feel uncomfortable dealing with teen kids. A sensitive approach and better understanding is the need of the hour in such circumstances.
