Do You Know These Fun Fatherhood Facts?

Fatherhood is full of surprises. Learn some of the fun facts about being a dad.Father’s Day rolls around every June. And at Choices Pregnancy Center, we love to honor fathers and mothers. (We’ve collected some fun Father’s Day trivia for you, in the quiz at the end of this post. Check it out. But prepare to be surprised!)

Speaking of surprises, many men feel unprepared for becoming fathers. The thought of being a failure as a father can be really scary. Scary enough to make them want to run the other way.

But guys, here’s some good news: You don’t have to be superhuman to be a hero to your child. Mainly, you’ve got to show up, stay involved, and love your family.

And those are 3 things a man grows into by consistent effort. You can make it happen.

But is it worth the effort? Oh, yeah. Big time. You, Dad, make a huge difference for your child--today and in the future. Don't believe us? Keep reading...

The Power of Fathers

Just by being a present, involved, and loving father you will have a major impact on your child’s life. Look at what studies have shown:

  • Teenage boys act out less when their fathers are part of their lives.[1]
  • Girls with healthy father-daughter relationships are more likely to have relationships with men who are emotionally intimate, which leads to more satisfying and long-lasting marriages.[2]
  • Kids whose father are involved in their lives are more sociable, confident, and self-controlled than kids whose fathers are absent.[3]
  • Children with involved fathers are less likely to misbehave in school or to engage in risky behaviors (smoking, drinking, hooking up, using drugs) when they become teens.[4]
  • By being present in their children’s lives, fathers defend their children against facing poverty, abuse or neglect, obesity, drug and alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, and incarceration.[5]

What about dads who don’t get to live with their children? Some studies show many of these benefits still reach their kids—as long as Dad stays involved in their lives. (Check out this article for ways to stay close to kids in this situation.)

Fathers don't have to be superhuman to be a child's hero. Just be present, be involved, and be loving. Be a dad.

Being a Father is Good For You, Dad

Your child isn't the only one who benefits from having you for a dad. Fatherhood is good for you, too!

Fathers often find:

  • They decide to break bad habits. They stop smoking, drinking too much, and eating junk food “for the sake of the kids.” They tend to drive more safely, too. Deep down, most dads want to be good role models--men their kids will be proud of.
  • They want to be responsible. Becoming a dad brings out the provider and protector in a man. He gets serious about his job of caring for his family.
  • They seek out parenting help. We’ve seen lots of fathers come to Choices Pregnancy Center for parenting classes because they want to be the best dads they can be. (Just ask us about the Earn While You Learn program for dads!)
  • They get healthier. Just caring for little ones can be a workout! And as fathers love their children more and more, they start thinking, “Hey, I want to be around to see these guys grow up. I’d better get more exercise.”
  • They feel good about themselves. According to studies cited in this article, fathers often have better self-esteem, feel less stressed, and enjoy life more than guys who aren’t dads.

As writer Eric Messinger says about being a dad, “I feel much happier to be alive. Before becoming a father, I had no idea that being a nurturer could make a man feel so terrific.”

So there you have it--fatherhood comes with perks for Dad and his kids.

Men, we hope you'll now stand a little taller, knowing that by doing your best as a father you are building up the next generation.

Now, About That Trivia Quiz...

Take this Father's Day trivia quiz and see how much you know.

Answers:

#1 – A. Elmesu carved his wishes for his father’s long life and good health in stone.

#2 – B. Every child gets 2 “sex chromosomes” (called X or Y), one from each parent. Girls get X and X, while boys get X and Y. Mom’s eggs can only give X’s; each of Dad’s sperm carries either an X or a Y chromosome. So Dad’s sperm makes the call.

#3 – C. Taylor’s father contracted typhoid fever after drinking from a contaminated public water supply in 1896.

#4 – B. Sonora Dodd’s father, a Civil War veteran, had raised 6 children alone after his wife died during childbirth. President Richard Nixon signed Father’s Day into law in 1972.

#5 – A. Ramajit Raghav from India was 96 years old when his 52-year-old wife gave birth to a baby boy in 2010. His first son was born when he was 94.

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Happy Father’s Day
from Choices Pregnancy Center!

We help fathers (and mothers) become the best parents they can be
through education, support, and material resources to meet their families’ needs.

How can we help you?
Contact us today.

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Sarkadi, A., Kristiansson, R., Oberklaid, F., & Bremberg, S. (2008). Fathers’ involvement and children’s developmental outcomes: a systematic review of longitudinal studies. Acta Paediatrica, 97(2), 153-158.

[2] https://ifstudies.org/blog/how-dads-affect-their-daughters-into-adulthood

[3] Anthes, E. (2010, May/June). Family guy. Scientific American Mind.

[4] Anthes, E. (2010, May/June). Family guy. Scientific American Mind.

[5] https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic