Dr LeCrone
05-21-2006, 10:12 PM
Today is the day to honor fathers.
Being a father, and the wonderful years I had with my own father, certainly have molded my thoughts and feelings about fatherhood. Counseling with fathers has revealed other facets to me. I find fathers in all walks of life have similar concerns.
Most parents are concerned about the health and well-being of their offspring. Fathers may demonstrate this concern in different ways. A young father often will accompany his wife and newborn to the pediatrician to learn firsthand about care and feeding for growth and health. Later he may become acquainted with the dentist and perhaps with the orthodontist. Fathers share the concerns of mothers about nutrition, exercise and stable emotions.
Most fathers have pride in their family and its heritage and want to protect this pride by never brining dishonor to the family name. They hope they can instill this pride in their children.
Most parents want success for their children. They themselves try to succeed in order to be a better role model and to provide advantages that will make the path to success a little easier for their children.
Most fathers love their children. I believe only a few really believe boys don’t show their feelings, don’t cry when they get hurt and are supposed “to take it like a man when they have disappointments, hurts, rejections.”
Most fathers I have observed show great pleasure in giving a big bear hug to sons and daughters and even greater pleasure when that bear hug is initiated by the child.
Most fathers have doubts and uncertainties about their role. A father may wonder what he should share about his feelings in different stages of life, what his values are and how some values have been influenced by his place in society, who he has modeled his life after, what his hopes and dreams are and what his greatest disappointments have been.
Many men are afraid to let their children see the flaw in their characters, the crack in the mold that makes them human.
Most men are glad that television, movies, books, etc. have changed the image of fathers. It is now more true to life. Men have always been nurturing and caring and have provided for their children in more than material ways. At the same time, most fathers do not wish to be portrayed as a superman.
As the story goes, children in a Sunday school class were asked, “What is Father’s Day?” Little Johnny waved his hand high in the air before the teacher recognized him. “It’s just the same as Mother’s Day,” Johnny said, “only it doesn’t cost as much.”
I hope that this Father’s Day, whatever the cost, we can express our true feelings to the father who has been such a positive force in our lives, who influenced, encouraged and shaped us.
Happy Father’s Day.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1987
Being a father, and the wonderful years I had with my own father, certainly have molded my thoughts and feelings about fatherhood. Counseling with fathers has revealed other facets to me. I find fathers in all walks of life have similar concerns.
Most parents are concerned about the health and well-being of their offspring. Fathers may demonstrate this concern in different ways. A young father often will accompany his wife and newborn to the pediatrician to learn firsthand about care and feeding for growth and health. Later he may become acquainted with the dentist and perhaps with the orthodontist. Fathers share the concerns of mothers about nutrition, exercise and stable emotions.
Most fathers have pride in their family and its heritage and want to protect this pride by never brining dishonor to the family name. They hope they can instill this pride in their children.
Most parents want success for their children. They themselves try to succeed in order to be a better role model and to provide advantages that will make the path to success a little easier for their children.
Most fathers love their children. I believe only a few really believe boys don’t show their feelings, don’t cry when they get hurt and are supposed “to take it like a man when they have disappointments, hurts, rejections.”
Most fathers I have observed show great pleasure in giving a big bear hug to sons and daughters and even greater pleasure when that bear hug is initiated by the child.
Most fathers have doubts and uncertainties about their role. A father may wonder what he should share about his feelings in different stages of life, what his values are and how some values have been influenced by his place in society, who he has modeled his life after, what his hopes and dreams are and what his greatest disappointments have been.
Many men are afraid to let their children see the flaw in their characters, the crack in the mold that makes them human.
Most men are glad that television, movies, books, etc. have changed the image of fathers. It is now more true to life. Men have always been nurturing and caring and have provided for their children in more than material ways. At the same time, most fathers do not wish to be portrayed as a superman.
As the story goes, children in a Sunday school class were asked, “What is Father’s Day?” Little Johnny waved his hand high in the air before the teacher recognized him. “It’s just the same as Mother’s Day,” Johnny said, “only it doesn’t cost as much.”
I hope that this Father’s Day, whatever the cost, we can express our true feelings to the father who has been such a positive force in our lives, who influenced, encouraged and shaped us.
Happy Father’s Day.
Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D. Copyright 1987