Fathers are vital for the emotional, physical and social development of their children. Therefore, you are blessed if you grew up in a home with a father. Let him know you appreciate him; your life could have been very different without him.
According to the 2017 Census Bureau, 19.7 million children are living in a home without a father. As a result, these children face several consequences:
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Four times greater risk of poverty
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Prone to have behavioral problems
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Apt to abuse drugs and alcohol
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More likely to commit a crime
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Twice as likely to drop out of high school
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Twice as likely to suffer obesity
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(National Fatherhood Initiative. June 8, 2020. <https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic>)
Clearly, not having a father in the home makes a difference for both girls and boys. A father is his daughter’s first love and protector. Moreover, He gives her confidence and assurance to face life. “Her attitude about herself comes from her dad”
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Similarly, a dad is his son’s hero. He is a role model and the example of strength and masculinity for his son. As a result, a boy develops his identity from watching his father.
Meeker, Margaret J. Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters. Ballantine Books, 2007, 128.
