OVERVIEW – On Being the Father of a Daughter

Observations from 101 Dads of Daughters

• Daughters are more complex than sons.
• It’s surprising how much my own parents affected the kind of father I am.
• My daughter’s relationship with her mom is different than with me.
• It can be a struggle to find enough time to be a good dad.
• Being a divorced dad can be tough.
• Being a stepdad can be amazing.
• It was scary having a child when I was so young.
• I realized my daughter is the most incredible thing in my life.

GIRLS ARE LIKE ALIENS

“I grew up in a household with two brothers, so to me girls were aliens. As a young man I had to learn through dating what they were like. I didn’t have any girls to interact with growing up, so [having a daughter I realized] they were just a whole breed apart from me.”

Ken, 9/11 New York City fireman and father of a six year old daughter and two sons

ON BEING A FATHER—I HAVE SOME FEAR OF WOMEN

“Women intimidate me.  I have some fear around women. 

I mean, I’ve built my image in a man’s world, so it’s a lot easier for me to understand the rules of engagement.  And I’ve been pretty successful at it. 

Whereas with women—I mean, I’ve been successful dating and doing all those things. But it’s always been an acquisition for me versus actually functioning in their world.”

Bill, forty-eight year old father of a twenty-year-old daughter & twenty-four year old son