Ok so we know sometimes dads get a bum wrap. We've heard them take note of their minority status in the blogosphere. We've read that they sometimes feel like "just a paycheck." And we know several groups have formed in Britain and the U.S. to insure father's rights in custody battles. There is no doubt that fathers are often under-appreciated, sometimes deservedly so.
But have you ever been a single parent? I have and I'll tell you what. It sucks. Don't get me wrong. Being in a lousy relationship with an unhelpful parent partner can be terrible too. But when you are in a relationship with a good father, the relief is immense and the yoke of motherhood can become downright manageable.
The father-child relationship is incredibly crucial to the healthy development and maturation of kids into adulthood. A recent study found that the quality of the father-child relationship is predictive of success in intimate relationships in adulthood. I've seen my children with and without an active father person in the home. And the difference is immense. So maybe I should seriously consider that request for a "man space" after all.
