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Family
A Call For Fathers
By Douglas Cowan, Psy.D.
Dads, please let me encourage you to change some things in your
life. A recent University study found that the average father in
America spends less than sixty seconds per day in conversations with
his children!
The actual number was 47 seconds per day.
How in the world does that happen? Certainly we
fathers love our children and want the best for them. So what does
this study tell us about the focus of our investment in the lives of
our children? Are we too focused on our work? Are we too focused on
our paychecks?
What's with us men? Have we as fathers come to
think that our kids really just need our money? I sure hope not.
Our children need us to look them in the eyes and
talk with them. We need to actually be involved in the lives of our
children and teens. We need to actively raise them, teach them, and
shape their character and morals and values. We need to do these
things on purpose, with a plan, with a focus. Parenting is a "hands
on" activity.
So, spend time with your kids. Be available for
your kids. Make your kids a major priority in your life. Protect
your family. Be involved in your family.
Look at your personal definition of "success." My
definition has become, "The progressive realization of moral,
virtuous, or Godly goals."
Obviously this definition has little to do with
how much money I earn, or how much status I attain in my profession.
It has little to do with my children becoming sports stars or
valedictorians (although they are both). Success has to do with
character, relationships, and spiritual growth.
So fathers, please take the time to teach your
children. Be role models for your teens. And spend more than 47
seconds each day in conversation with your children.
Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who
has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986.
He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family
of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net,
helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each
year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA
International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors
for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of
NewIdeas.net Incorporated. |
