Originally Published February 24th, 2020
We all have different ways of how we will interact and discipline our kids. But did you know that how you treat your child will, later on, have a great impact on their adult life?
You may notice that there are some who find it difficult to interact with others, while others do not. According to studies, a daughter’s actions depend on how their father treats them.
You may not realize it, but your daughter’s behavior depends on the relationship she has with you. (Related: Women in Prison: The Rise of Pink Collar Crimes)
Treating your daughter right will benefit both of you. You might not see it now, but you’ll see the outcome once they start their adult life. Steering clear of “toxic dad” traits is one thing that can help you be the father your daughter wants you to be.
Here are the types of toxic father-daughter relationships you should avoid.
THE ABSENT DAD
This is the type of dad who walks out on their family’s lives. In general, a father who leaves his family can be very unhealthy. This can develop a fear of abandonment and cause emotional stress for your daughter.
THE DECEASED DAD
While this is already out of your control, still, this can be very traumatic to your daughter. Same with “the absent dad”, this can also leave a fear to your daughter that all men will leave them.
THE DISTANT DAD
The type of dad who is physically present but emotionally absent. Aside from your physical presence, your daughter needs an emotional connection too. Without this, your daughter might feel neglected and unloved. She might end up having problems understanding herself and her future partner.
THE UNFAITHFUL DAD
A father who cheats on his wife is a cheater to his whole family. Hence, your unfaithfulness applies not only to your partner but to your daughter as well.
This is very unhealthy for your daughter as it can affect her relationships with others. Your daughter may have trust issues and may generalize that all men are all cheaters.
THE ADDICTED DAD
Now, this type of father-daughter relationship is very frustrating. Fathers who are addicted to illegal substances create estrangement for their children. Having an addicted dad could be harmful because there’s a huge possibility that your daughter may end up doing the same thing that you’re doing. (Related: How Prisoners Deal With Addiction During Incarceration)
THE ABUSIVE DAD
This type of dad is extremely traumatizing. Sexual and physical abuse can have psychological effects on your daughter.
This is not normal behavior, and your daughter should never experience this. Unfortunately, there are a lot of women who were sexually abused by their own fathers. Surveys show that women who were sexually abused may have moral behavior problems.
THE CRITICAL DAD
Critical dads are those who have high standards that are often impossible to meet. While there’s nothing wrong with setting high goals for your daughter, this may cause stress to her.
Too much pressure can be mentally stressful for everyone. If she does not meet your set standards, your daughter may feel like she’s a failure. This often results in low self-esteem and lack of confidence.
THE NARCISSISTIC DAD
These types of fathers are those who are self-centered and arrogant. They always do anything to get what they want even at the means of damaging his family, which it usually does. They lack empathy and a sense of morality.
This toxic attitude usually creates a huge gap between the father and the daughter. If you’re a narcissist type of dad, there’s a huge possibility that your daughter may adopt this habit.
Fathers could be harsh or fair, affectionate or distant, supportive or not. All these have effects on your daughter’s emotions and beliefs that affect their adult life. That’s why it’s very important for a child to know and feel that they are important to their fathers.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Franchette Agatha Jardin believes that everyone has the capacity to help those who are in need. She writes blogs about issues and news surrounding those in prison in the hopes of restoring a little extra faith in humanity.