Chelsey Faucher on Unsplash" />What makes a great girl-dad? Here's what Reddit users had to say...Daughters are coming together to discuss what made their dad a great one – and there’s a common theme showing up in all their responses.
The discussion came about after a mum took to r/Parenting to ask other women what had made their dad “a great” one.
“My husband recently asked me how he can be the best dad to our daughter,” she said. “He has been amazing with our son, but now that we just had a girl, he’s wondering if there will be differences once they’re older on how to be a great father to a girl.
“His question was ‘For women who had great fathers, what did they do that made them a great father? What do you wish they did better or differently?’.”
The parent added they didn’t grow up with a father figure until they were older, which is why they asked the online masses to pitch in.
Most daughters who responded cited their dads simply being present and showing up for them as a top quality.
“I would think it would be the same for being a good dad to boys, it’s mostly about just being there and showing up for the kids,” said one respondent.
“My dad was always present, spending time with us, saying goodnight every night. We spent quality family time together and my dad was always available to hold our hands when walking or going on a bike ride together.”
Another commenter added: “I second this. My dad put the same energy into playing Barbies with me that he did playing basketball with my brother. He showed up and cheered for my sports just like he did for my brother.
“When I stopped playing sports he replaced that time on the weekends doing whatever I wanted just the two of us… usually that was going to Target or to see a movie.
“I could talk to him about anything and he listened, asked questions and was interested. He knew all my friends’ names in high school and college.”
Reflecting back to their youth, daughters also appreciated dads who were consistent, reliable and supportive of their endeavours.
One commenter said: “My parents were divorced but my dad was my more consistent parent by far and I ended up living with him more often than my mother for most of life.
“There are so many things I appreciate about him but to name a few: he was always at my sports and games, he helped me have awesome sleepovers at his house with my friends from school, he taught me how to cook, he made sure I had structure and expectations, he would play basketball in the driveway with me when he got home from work (usually around 7), he put pads in the bathroom without me asking when I turned 12, even though it was just him, me, and my brother.”
Being treated equally, especially for those with brothers, was also highlighted as crucial. “My dad treated me like I was the intellectual and spiritual equal of my brother,” said one Redditor.
“He was there for me. Came to my activities and performances. He was affectionate and all that, like others have said. But he never treated me like a second class citizen.”
Bengali (Bangladesh) · 
English (United States) ·