Whatever our daughter’s vocation, this is the mission of a father: to deprive himself of a treasure and place it safely in good hands. To support their daughters in becoming women, fathers should keep in mind three good practices.
1Be a good spouse
First of all, what do we do in our marriage? Let’s never forget that our marital relationship is watched by our children. Fine analysts of our behaviors and inconsistencies, our daughters are students at our domestic school. Let us serve and cherish our wives. Let us pray for her, for our children, with her and with them. The security offered by a loving father serving his wife is first; yet it goes beyond the marital framework to strengthen all the children. In short, the love of parents for each other offers an inexhaustible reservoir of trust to children.
2Do not hesitate to show affection to your daughters
The physical presence of the father within the family is fundamental. We still often remain stuck in the idea that fathers can remain more distant. Let’s bombard our daughters with compliments, let’s join them in their passions, let’s share quality moments with them and above all, with immense affection, let’s not hesitate to show them much affection. If they fail to find this emotional comfort in the father’s embrace, they may seek it elsewhere.
3Be the most fervent supporter of your daughters
Finally, our daughters must be aware that they always have in their father the most fervent of supporters. Let us defend them with ardor. Our gaze is decisive. In particular, an unfortunate word about a physical defect can wreak real havoc. With humility, let us ask our daughters’ forgiveness if our words have hurt them. Invite them to a restaurant, share a sport practice, a cultural outing and above all, try to be present for them.
The mother envelops while the father sends. The father’s election of love for his daughter is an all-risk insurance policy to face the future serenely. It is a launching pad: “Go, my beautiful one, I will always be there at your side, but take flight, it is yours, it belongs to you.”
Arnaud Bouthéon
Read more:
How fatherhood changed my views of masculinity
