15 Things All Dads of Daughters Should Know October 9, 2014 4 PM Brie Schwartz I feel sorry for you when they become teenagers. Dude, youre surrounded by women. What did you do to deserve that? Being a dad of four daughters (we also have one son), I hear stuff like this almost daily. And honestly, Im the one who feels sorry for people who think this way. Having daughters is one of the greatest joys I could imagine. We have a saying at our house that goes like this: I love you more today than I did yesterday. Raising girls is a privilege, not a burden. I certainly dont have it all figured out, but I have learned 15 things about raising girls these last 11 years. 1. She wants to be loved. More than she wants the stuff you can buy her or the things you can teach her, she wants you to love her. No one else on earth can assume your role as daddy. Your daughter will let you down, make huge mistakes, and maybe even turn her back to you for a season, but dont ever let her doubt your love for her. Look her in the eye and tell her you love her. Lots. 2. You have an influence on her future partner. Scary thought, but the kind of man you are to her will have a direct impact on who she chooses to marry someday. For years our third daughter would beg me to marry her when she grew up. I had to explain that I was already married to her amazing mother. If youre doing it right, shell want to marry someone like you one day. 3. Listen to her music. When my girls are in my car, youll be able to catch us rocking out to the following Pandora stations: Taylor Swift, One Direction, Cody Simpson, Kidz Bop Radio, Katy Perry, you get the point. Not stations Id listen to on my own—with one exception: I love Taylor Swift—but when it lights them up, it lights me up. 4. Shes watching how you treat her mom. If you take one thing out of this entire list, make it this. One of the best things you can do for your daughter is to love her mom. Its easy to be child-centered, running from one kid activity to another. But fight for your marriage and make it a priority. The seasons of life when I lose focus on dating Brooke (my wife) are also the seasons when our children have more issues. I dont think thats coincidental. Love your wife, make time to date her, take her on trips, and show your kids that she is a bigger priority than they are. 5. Dont shrink back as she grows up. Our oldest is almost 11, so we havent hit the dreaded teenage years, but I say bring them on. Dads who are further down the road than I am regret not being more emotionally engaged with their teenage daughters. It will be awkward for all of us, but Im leaning right into it. Periods, boyfriends, shaving armpits, Snapchat, whatever it is. My girls wont know any different than their dad being every bit as engaged when theyre 15 as he was when they were 5. Dont disappear when their emotions and bodies start changing. 6. Teach her how to do a real push-up. I wont be mistaken for Billy Blanks, but we take health and wellness seriously at our house. My girls arent wimps. They know how to do real push-ups. They play sports hard. They think throwing like a girl is a compliment, not an insult. They bring it. And more than the physical toughness, were raising mentally tough girls, just like their momma. In a world where femininity gets assigned far too often to princess dresses and fairy tales, my girls are tough as nails.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 12:57:15 +0000
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