The DADDY Bond

A lot has been said and written about the intimate bond between parents and their child. For parents it is the urge to protect and nourish our little one and for a child it is a sense of security and positive self esteem. Mummies have breast-feeding and the maternal instincts as an advantage in the process of bonding. Though the nurturing instincts of dads are slower then mums they can form strong bonding attachment to their children.
There are differences in the bond that a child has with the father and the mother.
A father’s bonding with his child develops when he realizes that he is not a substitute for the mum. The key point of fathering is play. Dads have a more playful interactive style which suits the personality of the child to develop strong social relationships. The toddler age usually strengthens the DADDY bond when your child begins to talk and relate to people. Getting involved in the routine activities lets the baby get used to your voice and scent and feels comforted and closer to you. The magic formula in the DADDY is they bring themselves down to the child’s level and avoid criticism. The daddy’s open ended questions make the child think creatively and explore opportunities.
The DADDY bond spells itself distinctively for little girls attached to their father. Although it can be stressful for the mum and the girls when Daddy is away, it teaches some good lessons. Children learn that even though people leave, they return. There is fear in a child that you won’t return. Also, it teaches them to adapt. The first week of Dad’s absence- the children fight and they need your attention all the time. The second week gets better and they are not clingy. The mum has to realize-something normal can cause havoc for a child. As a parent your responsibility is to remind them that they are loved and they can manage changes easier.
For fathers, breaking free of assumptions about “who and what” they are in the parental mix means the joy and satisfaction of more--and continuing--participation in shaping their daughter's lives.
When it comes to raising happy and confident young women, "parent" is now an equal opportunity position.