Below is one of those mass consumed articles about relationships. Of course its oversimplified and ignorant of the realities, the challenges and valleys that normal life experiences. But to celebrate my little girl growing up, I mean, she really isn’t a baby anymore.
Even though it isn’t perfect, some of the great things I want to be for my little (not-so-little) girl are:
Here are the 25 most-mentioned things that a daughter really needs from her dad:
1. Time (“To show interest and involvement in my life,” “To be available”).
2. Affirmation (“Approval,” “Praise,” “Hear him say out loud, ‘I love you'”).
3. Affection (“Hugs,” “Physical touch”).
4. Unconditional love (“For who I am regardless of my failures”).
5. Apologies.
6. Be proud of me (“To know I’m not a disappointment to him,” “No judgment,” “Less criticism,” “Faith in me”).
7. Tell me I’m beautiful (“Compliment me, especially about my looks”).
8. Talk to me and open up about himself, his pain, his faults, his hopes (“Let me see that he is human, that he fails, that he makes mistakes, and then show me how to make it right,” “Time alone where I get to know him and his childhood”).
9. Pursue me (“Desire to get to know me,” “Interactive conversation where he is asking me questions about myself,” “To actively seek me out and find out what I am doing, what I am interested in, WHO I am”).
10. Prayers.
11. To work on his temper so I can feel safe (“Not to crush my spirit”).
12. Not to change me (“To let me be me,” “Be accepted for myself—not for what I did or failed to do”).
13. Honesty (“I need him to be honest with himself. When he’s honest with himself, it frees him to be honest with me”).
14. Just listen.
15. Guidance.
16. Protection.
17. Sense of humor.
18. Teach me about things.
19. Be an adventurer … with me.
20. Instead of not being there, please be there (“Instead of handing me money, ask to come with me and take me shopping or out to lunch”).
21. Tell me you love being my dad.
22. Believe in me.
23. Never give up on our family.
24. Show me how a real man treats a woman.
25. Support my ideas and dreams.
Raw. Vulnerable. Honest. And every single response comes from a daughter’s heart longing for connection and relationship with dad coupled with love and affirmation from dad.
For the original article, visit drmichellewatson.com (“25 Things a Daughter Needs From Her Dad” by MICHELLE WATSON).
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