"The most important thing a father can do for his child is to love their mother," said theologian Theodore M. Hesburgh. With Father's Day at the forefront of everyone's minds, California Healthy Marriages Coalition (CHMC) has released new resources for fathers.
The organization's booklet "Healthy Marriage, Responsible Fatherhood" reveals surprising research evidence on the dramatic importance fathers play in the lives of their children and family, which is now seen by some researchers as equal to, and in some instances greater than the importance of mothers. The crucial importance of an involved, loving father is summarized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: "Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior compared to children who have uninvolved fathers. Committed and responsible fathering during infancy and early childhood contributes to emotional security, curiosity, and math and verbal skills."
CHMC has also generated a tip sheet on "10 Ideas Guaranteed to Make You a Better Dad in 2010." The includes one unexpected idea "Mark the calendar and block out at least one night a month for a date night with just you and your kids' mom," which underlines the importance of the marital relationship in providing a strong foundation for kids' lives.
CHMC Vice President Patty Howell states, "One of the problems today is that in the last four decades, kids are no longer as likely to live with their biological fathers as they used to be because of the high rate of divorce. One-third of kids no longer have daily contact with their fathers, and half of those kids do not even have monthly contact. We all know how important mothers are. What we are now learning is a father's love and attention are equally or sometimes more important. This is a tremendous realization of the importance of a father's impact on a child's success in life, and on the importance of the father's relationship with the mother of his children."
The number one predictor of a father's involvement with his kids is the strength of his relationship with their mother. When the marriage breaks down, the father is much less likely to be involved with his family and children. For this reason CHMC is devoted to helping mothers and fathers improve their relationship through Marriage and Relationship Education classes offered throughout California.
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