Parents have a huge impact on their children that sticks with them even throughout their growing adult lives, especially the parent-child relationship between a father and his daughter. Our society really enjoys this subject, but focuses more on how a negative relationship affects a girl as she ages. We throw the term “daddy issues” left and right as a way to explain why girls act out without really knowing the situation or individuals. Though I do recognize that negative impacts some father-daughter relationships have on the daughter, I greatly think that more discussion should arise of what great things happen when a daughter and father have a healthy, loving relationship.
Confidence
Naturally, young girls greatly look up to their fathers (even if they don’t admit it as they get older). They seek out their approval, and at times will go to great lengths to get this appraisal. Fathers that communicate to their daughters not just at a young age but throughout their development that they agree with their actions and support their paths of life tend to have a more positive effect. Getting this approval makes girls feel almost invincible, they carry a sense of confidence in everything they do and are more likely to attempt and accomplish goals and ambitions.
Security
For a girl who is close with her dad, she always feels protected and secure. Having this feeling of security is very important when a girl is in her teenage years, when everything is not very stable in her life. She is feeling all sorts of social and emotional pressure, and having a larger role model in her life that makes her feel grounded and can help her not feel as unstable. Having a dad always on your side during these critical events is important for many girls and can undo the damage that may be caused by these events.
Self-love and worth
A father's love for his daughter greatly shows in the way that the daughter carries herself every day. When a father is present and shows a great love for his daughter, his daughter knows what to look for in relationships, romantic or not. She knows she is valued and loved and she doesn’t accept anything less than that. This love can be even just as simple as respecting his daughter's wants and needs and constantly reminding her of the value she has in his life. By doing this, the daughter knows she should be respected by any other individual who walks into her life, has a deep love for herself, and doesn’t need constant approval from the world around her, because she has the greatest approval; the approval of her dad.
I hope for many girls and or women reading this article that they have a better understanding and appreciation for what their relationship with their dad has done and still does for them as they have grown into successful, and happy women. For fathers or fathers-to-be who are reading this, having a good relationship with your daughter really does mean a lot to them (even if they don’t act like it) and you have more say in your daughter's happiness than you really think. So, tell them you love them, respect them, and always be there, regardless of where they find themselves in life.
