As Father’s Day approaches, we would be remiss not to honor the dads in our community. We know parenting is never easy; it does not come with a handbook. So to the dads who are determined to stay active in your daughters’ lives, we salute you! And to the dads who want to be more active, we encourage you!
Nothing can replace a father’s role in his daughter’s life. Fathers play a valuable role in the emotional and social well-being of their daughter. Research shows that girls and young women who have an unstable father figure are more liable to unplanned pregnancy, low-self esteem, high school and college drop-out, poverty, divorce and sexually promiscuous behavior.
Dads can serve as “Life Navigators” who help map and chart the course of their children’s lives. A father should never assume that the mother’s role is more important to their daughter’s development. The reality is that BOTH roles are equally significant and beneficial. We challenge every father to become the role of “Bodyguard” in your daughter’s life. A bodyguard is a person who escorts and protects someone (usually of importance) to a specific destination or location. In this case, the destination is successful womanhood and beyond!
At Demoiselle 2 Femme, NFP our “Bodyguard” program is designed to create, heal, and strengthen father-daughter relationships. If a relationship with the biological father is not feasible, i.e. death, illness, etc., girls are encouraged to identify a father figure to serve as her Bodyguard. The program provides workshops, support group sessions, seminars, and father-daughter activities that aim to address and resolve conflict, restore estranged relationships, and teach effective communication.
Tips to be a strong “Body Guard”
On behalf of Demoiselle 2 Femme, we say “Happy Father’s Day” to all of the dads. We salute you and encourage you to remain actively connected and committed to your children. We leave you with a quote from President Obama’s Fatherhood Speech: “Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded … that family is the most important. And we are called to recognize and honor how critical every father is to that foundation. They are teachers and coaches. They are mentors and role models. They are examples of success and the men who constantly push us toward it.”
“One good father is more than one hundred schoolmasters”
~ George Herbert ~
Featured photos below are from one our Bodyguard program workshops:
