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Running Head: IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS

The Importance of Fathers in a Childs Life

Zaphora Clark-Garcia
University of Memphis

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Running Head: IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS

When children are born parents are responsible for caring them. They now have this
enormous liability for caring for another humans life. Without the help of the parents the baby
would not be able to make it very long in this world. They hold, in their hands the possibility of
hindering or helping the child. They can decide to walk away or stick around to see the beauty
of that child growing up. It is a very serious responsibility and can seem scary when you are told
you are responsible for another person.
Many people believe that having a two-parent family is no longer a necessity. There is a
new trend of single-parent families in todays society. They believe that one parent mothers can
handle themselves very well and therefore the children no longer need both parents. There are
plenty of mothers who do an excellent job of raising their children by themselves. However, that
does not mean that the child does not need a father. Families with two parent homes create a
more secure environment for the children. Children do better when there is the support of both
parents, financially and emotionally. There is a need for both parents in order to maintain a
balance in the home.
However, the rates at which children are growing up in a one parent home are ever
increasing. The reasons behind this tend to be because of blurred marriage lines, women having
birth outside of marriage, and divorce rates increasing (McLanahan and Carlson, 2002. p.129).
These are all new trends that have helped increase the number of children who grow up in one
parent homes, usually without their fathers. These trends are making the changing the way
families are made. That is not always a bad thing. However, when making decisions in which a
child is involved, the child best interest should always be first.

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Running Head: IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS

Blurred marriage lines are where the lines of what a marriage should usually contain are
blurred with relationships who are basically married without the title. Instead of getting married,
couples are deciding to live together and see if they are compatible before entering a marriage.
However, many people become comfortable with the situation and the idea of marriage is
forgotten. The problem is that when a child comes into the family the legal bonds that hold a
marriage together are not necessarily there for these relationships. Therefore, when the mother
does have the baby, it is done so outside the bonds of marriage.
Unfortunately, however, not all fathers stick around whether it is in a cohabitation
relationship or marriage. There have been many studies to prove that divorce is a very common
choice in todays society. The rates of marital instability are constantly increasing. Marital
instability is the inability for a marriage to maintain healthy or consistent. This has led to more
divorces than ever before (McLanahan and Carlson, 2002, p. 129). These popular trends have
increased the chances that children are more likely to grow up in a one-parent home, generally
the mother, with a distant relationship from their other parent, usually the fathers.
Children who have little to no relationship with their fathers are more likely to have some
type of behavior problem and do worse in their academic studies (McLanhan and Carlson, 2002.
p 132). Their mothers are usually occupied working and trying to care for their children. This
can lead to a sense of abandonment from the child. They know that their parent is trying to care
for them but still feel the need for attention. This can cause children to search for attention in
other places. This can lead to disruptive behavior such as drinking, drug use and early sexual
activity.

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Running Head: IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS

Also, children are not the only ones to benefit from two parent families. The parents also
benefit from having a partner to rely on. They get emotional relief from the everyday problems.
When parents work problems out instead of running away the child is learning that it is possible
to work things out. They learn that compromise is a big part of life because of what they learn at
home. Children also need emotional support from both parents. It gives them a sense of
security. However, it does not always work out that way. Since most children are given to the
mothers the father usually becomes distant. However, the idea of a fathers involvement even if
they are not living with the family is better than no father at all.
The children also benefit from having two incomes coming into the house. Some times
the second income may come in the form of child support, but it is better than one income. The
need for extra income is important not just to the mother who is struggling to pay bills, but also
to the child. The knowledge that they are financially stable is better than seeing a constant need
for extra money is a struggle for them just as much for the parents. They know when there is
something wrong. They can see when there is not enough money to go around. The extra
income gives them a sense of financial security. It also gives them a chance to have better living
conditions. Many one parent homes live closer to the poverty line (McLanahan and Carlson,
2002).
Many may say that money should not be a factor. However, almost everything in society
revolves around money. There is a constant need to have more. Therefore having more will help
the family be more stable. It also opens up more opportunities for the children and their futures.
They can have more financial support from when they go to college. They can participate in
more extracurricular activities which will help them later in life. Children who have no father in

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Running Head: IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS

their lives are more likely to be poor and have poor living conditions which limit the
opportunities a child has (McLanahan and Carlson, 2002. P130).
Children need to be with their parents. There are always certain situations, usually
concerning abuse, where it is necessary to remove the child away from their parent. There are
also times when there is just no way that a marriage can work. There is a need however for both
parents to be a part of their childs life. In most cases children need both of their parents. Even
if there is a reason in which the parents cannot live together each parent should be involved in
their childs life. There are so many things that benefit the child by having both parents,
financial and emotional stability are only two.

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Running Head: IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS

Reference
Mclanahan, Sara S. and Marcia J Carlson. Welfare Reform Fertility and Father Involvement,
The Future of Children. Winter-Spring 2002.