The unspoken bond between a father and daughter is almost indescribable. And from a Dad’s point of view, it’s one of the most important relationships he will ever have in his lifetime. But sometimes there is a sense of uncertainty.
Uncertainty if you are being the best dad you can be for your daughter. Sometimes it can be difficult to determine if you are giving her what she needs outside of food and shelter. You know you love her with all of your heart but does she know how much you love her and that you love her unconditionally.
As a father myself, I’ve asked myself many questions. I have often wondered if I’m being the best Dad that I can be for my daughter. With this said, I have learned a few things along the way. And in this article, I’m going to reveal 11 things a daughter needs from her Dad based on experience.
Unconditional love
Loving your daughter should come naturally. Wanting to do everything and anything that you can do to make her happy is normal. Along with this, you should feel a burning desire to love her unconditionally. And yes, even when she might do things that could upset you. Despite all of this, a daughter needs support. Unconditional love and support.
Support
Your daughter is going to go through a lot of changes in a short period of time. Think about how fast she will progress from an infant to a toddler. From being completely dependent on others to take care of her to being able to brush her teeth. Through all of this change, she will need your support.
Encouragement
It goes without saying that you are your daughter’s biggest fan, but she needs to know this through actions and not just words. From her first steps to her first driving lesson, as a Dad, you will always be in her corner. Use words of encouragement as well. Positive, uplifting and encouraging words coming from you will give her confidence a boost. She should always feel that Dad has her back.
Undivided attention
It’s imperative that when you are spending time with your daughter that you offer her your undivided attention, free from as many distractions as possible. This can be challenging because our lives are extremely busy but it’s very important to focus your attention only on her when the both of you are together. And this becomes just as important when she is an infant up until she becomes a teenager.
To be a good listener
When your daughter talks to you, it’s important to pay attention. This sounds simpler than it is because she will tell the most outlandish things from time to time. But there will also be times when she will confide in you to some degree. And yes, this means that she will tell you things that she may not tell her mom. She’ll do this because she knows that you are a good listener. The more you listen to the silly things she says, the more she will trust you with the more serious stuff.
How a man should treat a woman
Over the course of your daughter’s life, she will gain first hand knowledge from you as to how a woman should be treated. So, remember, she is your daughter and you are helping shape her expectations in how a man should treat her when she grows up. As a Dad it can be hard to comprehend that the way we are expressing ourselves today will have a lasting impact on our daughters later in life. And that’s why you need to demonstrate love, care and acceptance early in her life.
Acceptance
From the time your daughter is an infant to the time she is a woman, it becomes crucial to accept her the way she is. Accepting her for all of her quirks is going to be key to building a special bond with your daughter. She is her own person and we as Dads need to acknowledge this and continue demonstrating characteristics of acceptance.
Guidance
It’s ok to offer guidance to your daughter. Vocalize some of your thoughts to her in an endearing way. If you feel strongly about something in life, don’t be afraid to share this with your daughter. From a young age, children are like a sponge. And there are very few people in their lives that will instill values in them from the beginning. One of these people is you. As a Dad, it is your job to prepare her for life. Offering your guidance is something that she will carry with her for the rest of her life.
Patience
There is going to be a lot that you don’t understand when it comes to raising a daughter and you are not alone. Navigating the father daughter relationship can be tricky. But the more that you demonstrate patience with your daughter the more you will allow for your relationship with her to grow organically. You are always going to be dealing with a wide range of emotions but exercise patience to get through these moments a little bit easier.
Understanding and Empathy
No matter the family dynamic, the better you become at exhibiting signs of understanding the more you gain the trust of your daughter. There will be times when how she feels about certain things may not make sense to you but it’s vitally important to always empathize with how your daughter feels. Doing this confirms to her that she is heard and it validates her feelings. Doing your best to demonstrate understanding and empathy strengthens the father daughter relationship.
Time together
Spending time with your daughter one-on-one will help strengthen the bond you have together. Whether she is an infant or teenager or whether you are together with the mom full time or not, it’s important to make time to spend together. When she is young, she will have a plethora of ideas of things that the both of you can do together, but as she grows older, it typically becomes more about what creative ideas that you can come up with to spend quality time together. Regardless, make an effort to hangout together.
Summary
The father daughter relationship is very important to both the father and the daughter. The relationship becomes increasingly stronger when the father takes the time to be fully plugged in and engaged in the relationship. Demonstrating love, compassion, acceptance and patience will strengthen the unspoken bond that you already have together. Implement as many of these tips as possible to help you be an exceptional role model for your daughter.
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