Being a dad is hard work. But, being a dad to a girl is a whole job. Many dads who have daughters end up changing completely, as being a girl dad is a new experience that many haven’t realized will change them.
However, some dads don’t know the ins and outs of raising daughters on an everyday basis. And, people are here to help them out along the way.
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Always comb their hair after a shower.
“After you wash her hair, if you have to comb it, start at the bottom and work up… don’t start at the top and muscle through the knots,” said one person on Reddit. Not many dads know this about post-shower hair care.
Be kind always.
One person said above all, always be kind to your daughter.
She said that her father wasn’t the best dad, but he always was kind and embraced them, praised them, and celebrated them, and that matters way more than anything else.
There’s nothing wrong with periods.
“There is nothing wrong or dirty about talking openly about things like periods. Learn about things like this so you can be helpful and informative to her when she needs you.
also don’t be the dad who refuses to buy his daughter pads/tampons because it’s ‘weird,'” another shared.
Don’t go too hard.
“Don’t be too overprotective. How long can you protect her? One day she’ll be on her own and she’ll not know how to. Teach her how to be independent instead. To do things on her own. Teach her self-defense. Teach her to be safe,” said another user.
Teach her to wipe properly.
Another person said it’s important to teach your daughter to wipe properly.
Wiping from front to back is the most important thing for young girls to learn because back to front can cause UTIs and other infections.
Listen to all of her hobbies and interests.
Another Reddit user shared that even though dads may not want to hear all about their teenage heartthrob novel characters, listen when she wants to talk about them and listen to all of their stories.
She just wants to be heard.
Teach them “boy skills” too.
“Make sure to teach us “boy” stuff, too! I was an only child, and my dad still taught me to drive a tractor, change a tire, hang drywall, and fix things around the house. These skills have come in handy many times in the years since and especially when I was living alone,” shared one Reddit user.
Respect their space.
“When they are teenagers, respect their space as it’s a tough time for them and honestly it’s really difficult to talk to your dad about. We have mood swings and you might think we hate you but we love you dearly! Be there for her when she needs it too,” shared another.
Don’t treat her like she’s going to break.
One person said to make sure not to treat her like a delicate, fragile flower because the entire world won’t treat her that way as she grows up.
It’s important to be kind but also teach her how to be strong.
Treat her how to say no.
“She is going to get hit on so much earlier than you think. I started getting whistled at walking past construction sites when I was 11. Teach her the skills to deal with rejecting someone politely but firmly and sticking to her guns (metaphorically),” said another Reddit user.
Always keep your promises.
Another person said it’s important to always keep your promises to your kids.
She said that she still remembers a time when her father broke a promise to her and it hurts her to this day.
Don’t yell at her for crying.
“Don’t tell her off for crying. My dad would always shout at me for crying and it always felt (still does) like a terrible thing to do. I find it hard now to process my emotions and feel 100x worse whenever I do cry as it’s something I shouldn’t do,” said another user.
Teach her to be proud of who she is.
Another person said that it’s important to not focus so much on her physical looks and to teach her to be proud of who she is and what she has.
So many girls are insecure and have low self-esteem, parents should build them up.
Don’t overfeed her.
“Don’t make your kids finish everything on their plate. If they say they’re not hungry/they’re full, don’t make them keep eating.
It creates bad eating habits as an adult. Your child’s body knows how much food it needs,” said someone else.
Respect their boundaries.
“If they say they don’t want to be touched they don’t want to be touched. This should be done with both genders but for girls saying they don’t want to be touched and then their dad does it anyway really sucks and leads to mixed messages about what your personal boundaries are allowed to be,” said someone else.
