What purpose to dads/fathers serve in life?

I honestly think you’re being way too hard on your dads. I used to feel similarly about my dad when I was your age (both of my parents were very strict, and my father could be quite aggressive at times), but now that I’ve grown up and learned a few things about life, I realised how much my dad was going through when I thought so badly of him.

My father was made redundant at 50, and my family had to collect benefits from the government. My Dad felt so ashamed and angry that he couldn’t provide enough for his family. He would get stressed, and frustrated, and often shout at us. He just wasn’t coping.

Then he had a heart attack, and that was a huge reality check. This was his body’s way of telling him he wasn’t handling things, and it was a huge message for our family. Dad needed to take it easy, and we needed to stop putting him under so much pressure. I started realising how self centred I was being. My Dad was someone who taught me so many things growing up, who put band-aids on my knees when I fell over, read me bedtime stories, gave me advice when I asked for it… He had been there for me for 16 years, and I was giving him a hard time. I also realised that I could have lost him, and that would have been a terrible blow. As much as he annoyed me, I love him very much, and I make a point of letting him know whenever I can.

Now, as a grown woman, I still argue with my Dad at times, but I can honestly say I don’t hate him, and I would never wish he wasn’t around.

I’ve also seen some amazing Dads- like my brother in law, who, even though he’s a teenage Dad, works really hard in his study, works a part time job, and devotes as much of his spare time as he can to his son. He pays for thing like nappies, formula etc. He realises he has a responsibility, and he hasn’t entered into it lightly. Pretty admirable, don’t you agree?

Then there’s other great dads I know- like Thedude, my Father-in-law, friends of mine, all people who work hard, and love their kids. They might have days when their patience is low, they’re tired, or they snap, but that doesn’t mean they’re bad fathers.

There’s also fathers in history like Desmond Doyle- a man who challenged the Irish court system in 1954 to get his children returned to him. His wife walked out on him, and his children were taken into Industrial schools (Which were like work houses for children from poor families), even though he provided food, clothing, a home for them, as well as his love. He was seen as an ‘unfit father’, even though he was able to provide for them (just) as a solo parent. So he took on a legal system to get them back. How is that a father without a purpose?

Quite frankly, I think it’s appalling for you to make the accusation that all fathers are essentially useless. Perhaps you’ll appreciate him more when you’ve grown up a bit too.

Well stop making generalisations. My dad isn’t useless, nor is the father of my nephew. Your Dad is probably a great guy, bu you won’t be able to see that yet until you get over the whole “it’s all about me” phase of your life.

Haha dunno me da just pisses me off when he goes away on construction projects for a week I dont go to school, stay out all nite and get locked so I suppose if he wasnt around id be havin a nice life lol

I don’t know, I don’t like my dad either. He just moved out FOR THE FIFTH TIME two days ago. He’s in jail most of the time. My dad’s addicted to drugs and alcohol and pain pills. My mom’s not any better.

For instance, last Christmas morning, I woke up with no one home, and nothing under the tree. I’m sorry if I sound a little selfish, but for God’s sakes, it’s Christmas! At least TELL ME I’m not getting anything.

theres not much else to it…

hes better when hes had a good day…

I mean.. all day hes been setting up to sell his moter cycle. he dumped a glass of water on me to wake me up, and we had a good day. nothing went wrong.

I do somthing stupid. the entire day turns to sh*t.

hes ok when everything goes ok.

when 1 tiny thing goes wrong… its usually me who gets it now…

used to be my older sister… now its me… because she moved…

I know its not all about me.

you dont know who I am. you know nothing about my life.

I saved my dad from going to prison for 3years. I could have let him go. I could have called the cops every time he hit me. but I didnt.

my dad is anything but a great guy.

im making a generalizations about every dad I know.

52 percent of all kids in americas dads arent in there life. thats more than half. and I know not many dads live up to the title.

thats why im hoping that the guy im with will make the perfect dad.

so your dads great, same goes for your nephews. but a lot of peoples dads arent great.

to me… all fathers are usless. because I only know mine. because everyone I knows father is gone, thus being usless.

im yet to meet a dad who lives up to the little

Dads are a very important part of growing up despite their faults, just like moms are important despite their faults.

AS for the families without dads that has more to do with the divorce rate in this country, which has a lot to do with people not trying to work things out between a man and a woman. Courts usually give the kids to the mother.

Anyway I think you are not only being to hard on your dad, but I also suspect their is more to this story than you are telling us.