Stewart Jackson MP: on the importance of Father's Day
Just last Sunday was Father's Day. Yes, people say, it's a bit of a cheesy American import (it actually dates from 1910), but anything that makes children (youngsters or grown-up) think about the value they place on the relationship with their own father surely can't be a bad thing.
Just last Sunday was Father's Day. Yes, people say, it's a bit of a cheesy American import (it actually dates from 1910), but anything that makes children (youngsters or grown-up) think about the value they place on the relationship with their own father surely can't be a bad thing.The Evening Telegraph is to be congratulated on its decision to establish a Dad of the Year competition, and, of course, well done to the worthy winner this year, Trevor Hill.
Family breakdown is one of the most profound and enduring tragedies of modern society – with long term impacts on adults and extended kin such as grandparents and aunts and uncles – but especially on children, some of whom are permanently damaged by the conflict and distress caused by estrangement and divorce.
Many MPs would tell you of the sense of sadness and hopelessness engendered by a tearful dad in their advice surgery – unable to see their own flesh and blood, made bitter by an unreasonable demand from the Child Support Agency (its old name) or the bureaucracy of the family courts system.
That's not to say that every dad is a good father by any means – or to overlook the contribution that a mother makes to a child's sense of love, safety and security.
However, there's plenty of evidence that the positive influence of a caring and supportive male parent has a very major influence on how well-rounded and stable a child develops into as an adult.
Children's mental, emotional and spiritual values are most often the result of the examples of a disciplined father. And the earlier a dad can be involved in family life, from being present in a supportive role at the child's birth to the day to day upbringing of the child, such as feeding, bathing and playing, the better.
Last month, I hosted a seminar in the House of Commons organised with Families Need Fathers and the Grandparents Association, with whom I've been collaborating to make the law on adoption and childcare fairer and more transparent, especially for grandparents, since 2006.
My party has been criticised for pledging to change the tax system to recognise and support the institution of marriage in order to boost families.
It's not about ignoring single parent families or the inevitable break-up of other families.
But anything that helps children to feel cherished, cared for and understood, all the better to cope with life's triumphs and tragedies, is worth trying and valuing dads is an important part of that.
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Monday 15 March 2010
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