This year’s theme of International Day of Families is “Fathers and Families: Responsibilities and Challenges” and focuses on the very important role of fathers in the lives of children and families around the world.
As a tradition in many societies, fathers have been moral teachers, disciplinarians and breadwinners. An increased importance has been observed of father’s role as a co-parent, equally engaged in the emotional and physical raising of kids. New researches confirm the positive impact of active involvement of fathers in the lives of their growing children.
The present world presents lots of challenges before fathers. Most of them do not realize the responsibilities of being a father, which often has devastating consequences for families and society in general.
Some fathers impose domestic violence or worse sexual abuse, destructing families and leaving deep physical and emotional scars in kids. Some abandon their families completely and are unsuccessful to sustain them. Further researches show the affect of fathers presence or absence on their children in such areas as success in school and crime.
Moreover, migration compel many fathers to often separate from their families and migrant fathers often run into a basically different concept of fatherhood in their countries of destination than that one in their home countries and even may even be rejected by their children as they grow up in a new society. AIDS/HIV crisis confronts fathers all over the world as it shows the significant importance of sexual responsibilities for fathers and all men.
All these challenges emphasize the profound and common need for positive father figures in families. As our understanding of fatherhood grows, there is an opportunity for men to picture what it means to be a father and to see opportunities to make a difference in communities.