[republicangel]

A nationwide poll on father-daughter relationships reveals that many American dads think they have strong relationships with their daughters but are not an important factor in determining their health and happiness

As a mother of 2 daughters, these fathers must be living in la-la land. My daughters look to their father for everyhthing. (Even though the 16 year old can be a little brutal at times) They are well-rounded young women because of his emotional support.

[Vision]

You're right. Not to mention Dads teach girls how other men should treat them.

[RavenATB]

Polls...what a ridiculous concept to use to draw such a conclusion. There's been a ton of research on family structure and what happens to kids whose fathers are out of the home.

Children who don't have their birth fathers living at home are FAR more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, partake in sex and have children outside of wedlock, drop out of school, and they're far more frequently victims of all types of abuse. They're also far more likely to commit suicide.

[baltodog]

They're absolutely correct....

My 13-year old daughter learned how to drive a tractor, change the oil, use power tools, play drums, get good grades, shoot a gun, care for animals, etc on her own.

Yeah, right. I won't let anyone tell me how to improve my relationship with my daughter...it's just fine. She has had to make some tough decisions about friends and actions thus far in her young life, and she has done just fine.

This is directly credited to the examples my wife and I (AS A TEAM) show her. Maybe our key to success is that my wife and I consider ourselves her parents, and not her friends. My job is not to make her feel good about herself all of the time, my job is to show her real life.

[HamiltonJay]

Anyone who has ever met Girls with strong fathers or father figures in their lives and Girls that don't can tell you what an UNBELIEVABLY HUGE influence this relationship impacts them.

[SLB]

As the dad of four daughters and one son (and one son-in-law) I have a little experience in this area. Each of them is different. I am not going to go into each and every one of them and their unique personalities as that is a private matter between them and their mother and me. Suffice to say I love each and every one of them.

[Desdemona]

Nearly half of those surveyed with a daughter younger than 12 said their biggest fear is that she will be physically or sexually assaulted. Twenty-two percent of all fathers worry that their daughters will not find a good man to support and take care of them.

As dad, men have more power here than they realize. I know any number of guys who asked their wives' dads for permission to marry them. Dad can always say no.

[shadowman99]

"DADS is a national advocacy group that provides fathers with tools to support their daughters both inside and outside the home."

You cannot give me that which is already mine.

[dasboot]

Proud families cheer grads at Mass. Maritime Academy By JONATHAN DARLING, Standard-Times correspondent

BOURNE -- "The class of 2004 is dismissed!" Justin Adam Scholl, regiment commander of marine engineering, said at the conclusion of the 161st Massachusetts Maritime Academy graduation.

MMA announced the winners of 36 awards given to students for academic achievement, community service and leadership. Shanna Leigh Post-Maher of Dartmouth received the Irving Wood Memorial Prize for the highest academic standing in marine transportation, and the Sea River Maritime Inc. award for excellence in the design of tankers. This story appeared on Page A6 of The Standard-Times on June 20, 2004.

Dasboot takes full responsibility for ruining his daughter's chances of being a cosmetologist. Darned homeshcooling dad.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

"The challenge for us is to wake up to a fuller realization to how important we are."

Preach it brother!

As a mother of 2 daughters, these fathers must be living in la-la land. My daughters look to their father for everyhthing. (Even though the 16 year old can be a little brutal at times) They are well-rounded young women because of his emotional support.

Sadly lots of dads may be loving, supporting and all the rest but they have no idea how necessary that is. A girl literally craves her father's approval. Even today as a grown woman I still talk to my dad about things and seek his advise. I love my mom, don't get me wrong, but there are somethings only a dad can give you.

[LoudRepublicangirl]

I wish these pollsters would call me. I truly believe that if the father is not in the equation there is imbalance in a child's life. The problem is that big government has tried to diminish the role of the father by encouraging girls and women to have children on their own through the welfare system. It's as though welfare has taken the place of the father through it's souless presence in the child's life. It use to be that fathers supported their children not only financially but by being a strong force in their lives. Now there is such a void and I really feel sorry for these children. They are missing so much.

[kitkat]

As an older woman...okay, OKAY, a MUCH older woman, I've had time to appreciate how much my father has meant to my life. Just simply because he loved me, I know I would never have accepted being a victim of abuse of ANY kind. And because he had faith in me, I had faith in myself.

No one should ever, ever deny the effect a father has on his daughter's life. He's the one who teaches his daughter that she is worthy.

It's a long, long time since my father died, but I still thank him on this Father's Day.

[kdmhcdcfld]

The title is a crock of dung...

One has to look no further than certain societal ills (teen pregnancy, drug use, etc.) to conclude that fathers' influence in the lives of their daughters is greater than the title leads one to believe.

The statistics show that those rates are lower among girls whose fathers have a great deal of influence in their daughter's lives.