Good Books

Good Reads for “Fathers and Daughters”

(For dads with daughters of all age groups)

“Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters: 10 Secrets Every Father Should Know” by Dr. Meg Meeker, MD. 

The book is full of practical suggestions for both fathers and mothers

(For dads with daughters in teenage years) 

52 Things Daughters Need from Their Dads: What Fathers Can Do to Build a Lasting Relationship by Jay Payleitner

It is an uplifting book to read and provide good preparation for dads to help daughters stepping into teenage years.

(For adult daughters)

Embracing Your Father: How to Build the Relationship You've Always Wanted with Your Dad by Linda Nielsen

This book allows adult daughters to reflect on their growing up years and what they can do now as an adult.  It receives high ratings among readers.

(For better communications)

How to Talk, so Kids Will Listen...And Listen So Kids Will Talk by Adele Faber

This book is practical, fill with exercises that will help you communicate better with your kids. It will give you surprising results, you will also find it useful in applying to other relationships.

(For reflections on being a dad)

You Have What It Takes: What Every Father Needs to Know

This e-booklet is excellent for focusing on being a dad by John Eldredge.  As for people who have time to read his the longer version, Wild at Heart, it further illustrates the journey of being a man, his masculine heart, as defined in the image of a passionate God.  Enjoy it.

Being a Dad...

Dear Dads,

Some of us may have read a book or two on how to be a dad, a few of us may have attended a class for dads, and probably most of us felt like being thrown into the role of being a dad overnight (or not!).   If you had journeyed alongside your wife through those nine months, you might have prepared well. But if you did not, or still wondering what it is to be a dad, or just want to encourage other dads, let's join up and experience the possibilities and privileges of being a dad to whom our sons and daughters long to admire, adore and love.

Being a dad is just the beginning.  Being a community of dads and moms ultimately creates a social and spiritual environment for our children to thrive.  I welcome your participation in this journey of self-discovery and building community.  We are going to focus on our relationships as dads to our daughters in this forum.  Please feel free to share these reflections and insights with moms and significant others in creating an amazing journey for our thriving families.

Yours,
Lawrence

How to build relationship and influence 1

In our fast-paced and schedule-tight lifestyle, we do sacrifice our relationships and influence.  The first order of things is to rediscover our priorities in these few short years with our children before leaving home.   Our priorities need to be focused on building their emotional resilience, character foundation, and spiritual vitality.  They begin to socialize and discover peer relationships and influences as they enter school.  Alongside their peers, we strategically serve as cheerleaders, mentors, teachers, and friends to the next generation.  One question to focus on is:  "How can I, as a dad, create and sustain a precious relationship and good influences over my daughter(s) in the coming weeks and years? "

The followings are a few suggestions for dad to achieve physical, emotional, and spiritual intimacy with our daughters:

• I can express physical and verbal affections to my daughter appropriately.
• I can join my daughter in some of her favorite activities (e.g., pretend play, drawing, sports, etc.)
• I can practice listening for emotional needs instead of just content (practice active or empathic listening).
• I can model what I say in daily habitual practices (e.g., hygiene, disciplines, communication...).
• I can say sorry and apologize without excuses.
• I can pray for my daughter's needs.
• I can affirm and appreciate my daughter's personality, relational, and learning styles without comparing her to others.