realizing the special bond between fathers and daughters
People have always told you that you look like him. You often check the mirror to try to find the resemblance, but you don’t see any.
Your mom’s favorite statement some days is, “You are just like your father.”
Unfortunately this is usually at times when you are clearly frustrating her.
You admit that you and your dad are quite alike. You usually share the same attitudes and values, and you always laugh at the same jokes.
You know the way you wrinkle your forehead when you are frustrated, angry or confused comes from him. Not one of your greatest attributes, as you worry that someday the wrinkles will become permanent.
You sometimes even hear him in your own voice.
You are very close with your mom, but it is dad to whom you turn when you need advice about how to manage your money, your real estate or any other business related affair.
Related: Raising Confident Girls: A Dad's Perspective
Your dad is not an affectionate soul. The bond you have with him is strong and silent. His words although few, always matter.
You on the other hand have more of an outgoing personality. One attribute you know he did not impart to you is your extroversion.
You respect the connection you share. You admire his values although you may not always agree with his attitudes. He is wise and intelligent, courageous and brave.
Some days he is your superhero, others days you feel like he is your nemesis. He tells you what he thinks and although the words are sometimes hard to hear, on the majority of occasions he is right.
These are perhaps the hardest moments. You may hang your head low bracing for a rebuff, which in reality never comes. He is your dad.
While his opinion may matter most to you, his only true investment is in you, not in proving you wrong. How quickly he once again becomes your superhero.
The older you get the more you understand that although you may at times consider him high and mighty, he is in reality, simply human.
He has warts and weaknesses just like everyone else. He is your dad, and you are his daughter. No one can ever really understand the bond you share, there are days you are not sure you do.
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Jennifer Powell-Lunder and Barbara Greenberg are authors of the hit book, "Teenage as a Second Language: A Parent's Guide to Becoming Bilingual." They've set up an interactive website for parents and teens to listen, learn and discuss hot topics and daily dilemmas. You can find it at www.talkingteenage.com.
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