The power of presence: Why involved fathers make all the difference
Fathers shape society with their love, wisdom and support for their children.
What you need to know:
- Modern fathers are embracing active parenting, redefining gender roles, and building emotionally rich, balanced family lives.
- Engaged fatherhood fosters stronger children, happier families, and a more equal society where caregiving is a shared duty.
Historically, fathers have played a crucial role in the welfare of their families. In most households, men serve as the primary earners and typically hold the position of heads of families.
Fathers often put their families' comfort and wellbeing ahead of their own, working hard to improve their financial situation. They invest their time, energy, and money to ensure a stable future for themselves, their families, and society at large.
However, a father's role and responsibilities extend beyond this point, especially as we navigate these invigorating times. Fathers no longer simply served as providers and disciplinarians within the family structure.
In recent years, significant transformation has occurred in the role of fathers, as an increasing number of men are wholeheartedly engaging in their responsibilities as active and involved parents. There is a noticeable rise in fathers engaging in solo outings with their sons and daughters. There is a noticeable rise in the participation of fathers in school meetings concerning their children compared to previous years.
A gift to a father.
It is evident that fathers are increasingly involved in nursery school cooperatives, managing carpools, supporting their children after swim meets, and actively sharing the rigorous duties of parenting with their partners. Their offspring demonstrate increased resilience, fortified protection, and elevated moral integrity as a consequence.
Also, the emergence of the engaged father can be linked to several influences. A significant element is the evolving social landscape, in which gender roles are undergoing redefinition. Conventional stereotypes linking men exclusively to the role of breadwinners are being contested, allowing fathers to take a more active and involved role in their children's lives.
Engaged fatherhood transcends simple physical presence; it encompasses emotional support, caregiving, and active involvement in multiple facets of a child's development. Engaged fathers tend to participate more actively in their children's educational journeys, attending school meetings, assisting with homework, and organising activities for their children. They diligently cultivate the emotional wellbeing of their children, promoting a sense of security and trust that enhances their overall development.
For fathers, active participation in their children's lives yields profound joy and a deep sense of fulfilment. It enables the formation of robust connections with their children, cultivating memories and experiences that endure throughout a lifetime.
Engaging in active fatherhood presents a chance for personal development, as fathers acquire essential insights regarding patience, empathy, and the significance of maintaining a work-life equilibrium. It offers an opportunity for fathers to engage in the active teaching of life skills to their children, shaping them into resilient individuals for the future.
Moreover, fathers are increasingly acknowledged as essential contributors in their children's lives, with a growing expectation to participate actively in both parenting and domestic duties. At the same time, mothers are now expected to provide financial support for the family's caregiving costs while facilitating fathers in taking on an equal share of parenting responsibilities.
At home, my wife works while I handle the children, the house, and the kitchen. Over time, I never realised I became a great cook. Even though women still bear the brunt of the childcare burden, men are now dressing up, dancing, playing games, changing diapers, feeding their children, and doing their fair share of childcare. This results in happier and healthier children and parents.
Actually, in contemporary society, there remains a prevailing belief that mothers play a more crucial role in parenting, implying that a child needs their mother while being capable of navigating life without a father figure.
We are advancing towards the dismantling of conventional gender roles within families, alleviating the burden on fathers to serve as the sole providers, empowering mothers to let go of the need for dominance in childcare, allowing our boys to articulate their emotions, and motivating our girls to chase ambitious career paths. In contemporary society, the standard of living for families has markedly enhanced in comparison to five decades prior.
Children with involved fathers are more likely to be confident, especially when speaking in front of an audience. Regardless of social class differences, they are remarkably self-assured and do not fear or intimidate anyone.
Surjit Singh Flora is a veteran journalist and freelance writer based in Brampton, Canada.