Sometimes I think dads feel left out. This is especially true when it comes to daughters.
As daughters become teenagers, they often rebel against both parents, craving independence. And while battles between teenage daughters and their mothers are legendary fodder for books and movies, in reality, teenagers are equally difficult to their fathers. I think this is partially because girls think their fathers don’t understand them. And to some extent, they may be right.
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But having just celebrated Father’s Day, I started to think about all the things that teenage girls don’t realize their fathers did for them growing up. Fathers of this generation of women are much more involved than the fathers of my generation ever were. They changed diapers, soothed crying babies, fed them, played with them, bathed them, read to them, rocked them ... everything a mother does.
When they were little girls, the same fathers drove them to school, took them to their activities and birthday parties, helped them with school projects, taught them how to ride a bike, to swim, to kick a soccer ball ...
And now these teenagers, these young women on the edge of adulthood, aren’t sure what to do with their fathers, these men who may not have the same language as mothers do to express themselves, to talk about boys and hair and makeup and pop culture, but they love their girls as much as mothers do.
They deserve to get credit for the equally important role they play in raising children.
So, teenage girls, give your dads a break. They love you to the moon and back. They have your back. They would do anything for you. And, someday, when you look for a partner of your own, hopefully you’ll find somebody just like him.
Amanda is the mom of two, a reporter for WRAL-TV and the author of several books including some on motherhood. Find her here on Mondays.