In a world with increasingly more feminist movements, men are becoming more and more insignificant in the eyes of the media. Sadly, it isn't uncommon for men to be ignored, looked down upon, or easily forgotten. People tend to forget, however, that you and I are here because of MEN and women. This simple concept has been a fact of this world since its creation. Today I want to stress the importance of men, and in particular, fathers.
Startling statistics about homes with absent fathers really helps to describe the tremendous impact fathers have on children.
For example, 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes-- 5 times the average. And a startling 80% of youths in prison come from fatherless homes-- 20 times the average. These are only a couple of the several that were detected through research. (The link to these facts, and much more, is at the bottom of the page)
It is clearly evident that fathers have a huge impact on family life.
While these statistics focus more on the total absence of fathers in homes, the frequent absence of fathers from excess work or other tasks, also has a huge impact on the family. Most jobs are 40 hours a week, with 10 hours of traveling time and 5 plus hours of work brought home. This leaves the wife and kid(s) without a husband and father for about 55 hours a week. What goes on in those 55 hours is handled and maintained by the mother.
Towards the beginning of my blog, if you can remember, I wrote about the culture of families. I remember reading something as I was studying on that particular topic, that has since stuck with me. There was a family that immigrated from Mexico to the United States. The father had to leave his family for 1 or 2 years to America before they could come. He did this in hopes of getting a job and a good home for them when they would come. When they finally reunited, one of the sons commented on the fact that he didn't really remember his father. He didn't have as much respect for his father as he did his mother--because he was gone for so long. One of the other sons ended up dropping out of high school when his father left to help support his mother financially and with the daily household work. Another family in the same case study, mentioned one of the sons acting out and getting into gangs amongst other bad influences. While their circumstances are different than most fathers in the United States today, the results are quite clear and similar to the absent fathers today.
So why is it important for fathers to be there and to be involved? What is it that they do?
Father involvement starts when the child is born. When a father interacts with his baby and engages in stimulating activities, statistics show that the child is more likely to not fall behind cognitively. Fathers are role models to their children. They show their children how to act in society and how to stand up for themselves, how to love, how to treat others, how to enjoy life, and to never take anything for granted. Fathers are important and men are important. Let us not diminish their amazing role.
I completely understand if some of you might read this and think about your father and realize that he wasn't anything like I described above. Fathers are tricky. You might have had a father who was at home often and was physically involved, but he wasn't a father who was involved emotionally. Because of this, you might not have a relationship with your father that you hold near to your heart. I encourage those of you who feel this way to look around you. Look for those who will be future fathers and help them to see the purpose that your father might not have seen.
Fathers are just as important as mothers are. The two work together to grow a family that loves and cares for one another. Without a father figure in the home, I believe that that is quite impossible to accomplish.
Every home is different. No matter your circumstances, build a footprint within the home. Decide what it is you want to have and go and get it.
~karlie
https://thefatherlessgeneration.wordpress.com/statistics/
https://www.cfuf.org/Filestream.aspx?FileID=14
Startling statistics about homes with absent fathers really helps to describe the tremendous impact fathers have on children.
For example, 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes-- 5 times the average. And a startling 80% of youths in prison come from fatherless homes-- 20 times the average. These are only a couple of the several that were detected through research. (The link to these facts, and much more, is at the bottom of the page)
It is clearly evident that fathers have a huge impact on family life.
While these statistics focus more on the total absence of fathers in homes, the frequent absence of fathers from excess work or other tasks, also has a huge impact on the family. Most jobs are 40 hours a week, with 10 hours of traveling time and 5 plus hours of work brought home. This leaves the wife and kid(s) without a husband and father for about 55 hours a week. What goes on in those 55 hours is handled and maintained by the mother.
Towards the beginning of my blog, if you can remember, I wrote about the culture of families. I remember reading something as I was studying on that particular topic, that has since stuck with me. There was a family that immigrated from Mexico to the United States. The father had to leave his family for 1 or 2 years to America before they could come. He did this in hopes of getting a job and a good home for them when they would come. When they finally reunited, one of the sons commented on the fact that he didn't really remember his father. He didn't have as much respect for his father as he did his mother--because he was gone for so long. One of the other sons ended up dropping out of high school when his father left to help support his mother financially and with the daily household work. Another family in the same case study, mentioned one of the sons acting out and getting into gangs amongst other bad influences. While their circumstances are different than most fathers in the United States today, the results are quite clear and similar to the absent fathers today.
So why is it important for fathers to be there and to be involved? What is it that they do?
Father involvement starts when the child is born. When a father interacts with his baby and engages in stimulating activities, statistics show that the child is more likely to not fall behind cognitively. Fathers are role models to their children. They show their children how to act in society and how to stand up for themselves, how to love, how to treat others, how to enjoy life, and to never take anything for granted. Fathers are important and men are important. Let us not diminish their amazing role.
I completely understand if some of you might read this and think about your father and realize that he wasn't anything like I described above. Fathers are tricky. You might have had a father who was at home often and was physically involved, but he wasn't a father who was involved emotionally. Because of this, you might not have a relationship with your father that you hold near to your heart. I encourage those of you who feel this way to look around you. Look for those who will be future fathers and help them to see the purpose that your father might not have seen.
Fathers are just as important as mothers are. The two work together to grow a family that loves and cares for one another. Without a father figure in the home, I believe that that is quite impossible to accomplish.
Every home is different. No matter your circumstances, build a footprint within the home. Decide what it is you want to have and go and get it.
~karlie
https://thefatherlessgeneration.wordpress.com/statistics/
https://www.cfuf.org/Filestream.aspx?FileID=14
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