Father-Daughter Relationships & Navigating Princess Treatment
Father Daughter Relationships & Navigating Princess Treatment
Dads and daughters form a bond like no other. You are ultimately her first experience of the opposite sex, and so the relationship you create together plays a critical role in her self-worth and outlook on life.
As Dr Jennifer St George explains, a child is a product of parenting as well as genetic inheritance, so nurturing your relationship with your daughter is a worthwhile investment and a responsibility you must take seriously. ¹ Let’s discuss the challenges of father-daughter relationships today and how you can effectively navigate princess treatment.
Dads and Daughters - A Complex Combination
'Any man can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.' This is quite a common quote and is often featured on Father’s Day cards, yet the message is so true. ² Being a father is a privilege, and it will take time and effort to get right. But don’t feel disheartened if you find it a challenge. Father-daughter relationships aren’t easy and will become more difficult to navigate as your child grows up.
Girls can be emotionally delicate, and this means you’ll have to choose your words carefully. For instance, a little girl can take rejection much harder than a boy, and during these early years, she will need you to build up her self-confidence. What we do know through research is that mothers and fathers tend to have completely different parenting styles. Mums provide the care and nurture a child needs, whereas fathers introduce the child to competition, risk-taking, and independence. But too much of a good thing is never right, so balance when raising a little girl is key. ³
Why Princess Treatment Is Key To Raising A Girl
Linda Nielsen, a psychologist and professor of adolescent psychology and women’s studies at Wake Forest University in North Carolina in an interview with Vision said the following;
“Are you worried about teenage pregnancy? Are you worried about whether your daughter will get a good job someday and be able to support herself? Are you worried about your daughter picking boyfriends and husbands who are going to be emotionally or physically abusive to her? Are you worried about boys taking sexual advantage of your daughter? All of these things, research shows, are connected more strongly to her relationship with her father than to her relationship with her mother.” ⁴
Princess treatment is no about spoiling your daughter with materialistic things or giving in to her every demand. It’s about investing your time and energy into raising your daughter and showing up for her no matter what. Why is this important? Well, she is going to base future relationships on how you treated her growing up.
For instance, a girl whose father listens to and respects her will go on to expect her life partner to listen to her and treat her well. That’s why it’s so important for us to show and tell our daughters that we believe they are capable of anything, explains Joe Kelly, the author of Dads and Daughters. ⁵
How To Be A Better Parent To Your Daughter
If you’re looking for help on how to be a better parent, the truth is, whether she’s an infant, toddler, or teenager, it all comes down to discipline, unconditional love, and positive parenting.
Set father-daughter relationship boundaries to give your daughter guidelines on what you expect from her in terms of behaviour and what is crossing the line. Explain to your daughter why you are setting such boundaries in a way that demonstrates your love for her. For example, I expect you to listen to me when I ask you to come by my side. This is so that I can always keep you safe and away from danger in any situation.
When she respects the boundaries and demonstrates positive behaviour, make sure to follow through with positive reinforcement, such as squeezing her hand and asking her about her day and what she wants to do next.
If he doesn’t listen, don’t raise your voice or attempt to punish her. Instead, remind her of the reason why she must listen and respect the boundaries. Be calm and patient with her and ask her why she didn’t listen to you. This shows that you care about her feelings and want to invest time into understanding her thoughts rather than restricting her ability to be independent or believing she’s incapable of looking out for herself. ⁶
Princess treatment must also extend to other women in your life. Even if you are no longer with the mother of your daughter, do not disrespect her. Always be respectful, polite and take action to show your daughter how women should be treated by men, such as speaking calmly, respectfully and in a loving way. This helps your daughter to understand how to receive love and give love, and most importantly, it will shape the way she expects to be loved in the future by a partner. ⁷
Embrace your father-daughter relationship and document your journey in our best-selling Fatherhood Journal.
References:
3:https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/knowing-feeling/202109/well-fathered-daughters
4:https://diaryofafirstchild.com/2010/07/29/do-girls-really-need-to-be-daddys-princess/
5: https://diaryofafirstchild.com/2010/07/29/do-girls-really-need-to-be-daddys-princess/
6: https://www.brighthorizons.com/resources/Article/the-art-of-being-a-father
7:https://www.heysigmund.com/dads-and-daughters-the-biggest-way-to-be-her-hero/