Fathers and daughters

I spent a good part of this weekend thinking about the relationship that fathers and daughters have. It is as fundamental in a woman's life as the connection that men have with their mothers. I think it runs much deeper than that for us women though.

A good father loves, cherishes, nurtures and supports his daughter. He teaches her through all these actions that she is worthy of all this and much more. He hands her the world and lets her believe that anything is possible, thus laying the foundation for the standard of respect she will expect from a man/husband/partner. All men will have to compare to her father, they will need to live up to the "ideal" that he creates for her. I am envious of the women who have wonderful fathers, those who will do anything to make their "little girls" happy.

Some of us, were not so lucky to have a good father. They were either indifferent, working too much or never around. Many of you know that my father was far from wonderful... he was more like Lucifer incarnate on this planet. Through his actions he taught me that I am not worthy of love and acceptance, and that no one would actually want to be around me. It has taken me a lot of years and inner struggle to get through some of the crap he heaped on me, and I admit it is still an ongoing battle and a learning process at the same time. I had a wonderful mother, but she can never replace the acceptance and love I wanted as a little girl from my dad.

For all the men out there who are fathers and have daughters, take heed: love them, support them and show them through your words and actions that they deserve nothing but the very best. Their lives will be so much better for it.