Comments on: Dads are responsible (and important!) http://www.mamablogga.com/dads-are-responsible-and-important/ mom's search for meaning Sat, 11 Feb 2012 07:19:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Jordan http://www.mamablogga.com/dads-are-responsible-and-important/#comment-5816 Jordan Tue, 01 Jul 2008 14:06:22 +0000 http://www.mamablogga.com/dads-are-responsible-and-important/#comment-5816 That page doesn't actually seem to offer solutions in my opinion. They cite critics who looked at data from 171 studies and said, basically, "Yes, but having a father in the home adds so many positives that it's hard to say that any one of them is directly attributable to having a father in the home." (Families with fathers are less likely to live in poverty, so not living in poverty must be what makes the difference? Children with fathers in the home are more likely to be involved in school, but that might be because they have two parents?) Their "solution," cited from a single study, is to have one highly-involved parent—which, frankly, they've already said is far less likely without having a second parent in the home. As part of their solution, children must receive time, affection, attention, economic & psychological stability—all of which have been statistically shown to be less prevalent in single-parent households (regardless of whether it's a single mom or single dad, actually, but single mom is kind of the default). If I'm going to suggest a solution, I want to be able to offer a better solution than that. My only advice is to cultivate a close relationship with a trusted male relative (your father/grandfather/uncle, maybe?) as part of a significant support network. That page doesn’t actually seem to offer solutions in my opinion. They cite critics who looked at data from 171 studies and said, basically, “Yes, but having a father in the home adds so many positives that it’s hard to say that any one of them is directly attributable to having a father in the home.” (Families with fathers are less likely to live in poverty, so not living in poverty must be what makes the difference? Children with fathers in the home are more likely to be involved in school, but that might be because they have two parents?)

Their “solution,” cited from a single study, is to have one highly-involved parent—which, frankly, they’ve already said is far less likely without having a second parent in the home.

As part of their solution, children must receive time, affection, attention, economic & psychological stability—all of which have been statistically shown to be less prevalent in single-parent households (regardless of whether it’s a single mom or single dad, actually, but single mom is kind of the default).

If I’m going to suggest a solution, I want to be able to offer a better solution than that.

My only advice is to cultivate a close relationship with a trusted male relative (your father/grandfather/uncle, maybe?) as part of a significant support network.

]]> By: Trina http://www.mamablogga.com/dads-are-responsible-and-important/#comment-5814 Trina Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:33:01 +0000 http://www.mamablogga.com/dads-are-responsible-and-important/#comment-5814 For example, scroll down to the last section of this page for interesting findings. The Many Meanings of Family and the Role of Fathers by Peter Fraenkel, Ph.D. http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/many_meanings_family_role_fathers For example, scroll down to the last section of this page for interesting findings.
The Many Meanings of Family and the Role of Fathers
by Peter Fraenkel, Ph.D.

http://www.aboutourkids.org/articles/many_meanings_family_role_fathers

]]> By: Trina http://www.mamablogga.com/dads-are-responsible-and-important/#comment-5813 Trina Tue, 01 Jul 2008 04:25:07 +0000 http://www.mamablogga.com/dads-are-responsible-and-important/#comment-5813 I agree that dads are important. Male role models are important. Although I know your post was put here for all of the right reasons, but as a single mom, the information above is hard to look at and makes my heart sink a little bit. How about a post that has potential solutions for those families that don't have two parents? Something that lists the things that can be done to lessen the chances of the negative popping up? I agree that dads are important. Male role models are important. Although I know your post was put here for all of the right reasons, but as a single mom, the information above is hard to look at and makes my heart sink a little bit.

How about a post that has potential solutions for those families that don’t have two parents? Something that lists the things that can be done to lessen the chances of the negative popping up?

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