Do families without fathers suffer?

There’s an interesting post over at Sunday Catholic Weekly, which suggests that “A child needs both parents to have normal growth”.

That’s quite contentious, and could even be seen as insulting to those who are either forced or choose to be single parents, or are in same-sex partner relationships.

The article continues with some observations:

External fatherhood

Even fathers ‘in the home’ are often absent for large periods of time, due to increased work and general life pressures. Mothers end up fulfilling both parental roles and both fathers and children miss out on, or receive a watering down of a special relationship.

Father (not) present

“Many adults feel resentment towards their fathers because they did not play with them, did not take them for walks, did not talk about their problems when they were children. They were hurt by indifference, withdrawal, and negligence. But a child will always remember his father’s words ‘I am proud of you’ or ‘I love you’. Children will always recollect building castles on sand with their fathers or will recollect fathers teaching them to ride a bike, will remember a walk in the forest, reading fairy tales, pitching a camp, carrying them piggyback as well as playing football together. Healthy relationships are built on father’s ideal, father who was with his child, looked after it, was responsible for his family, made a learning-friendly environment and motivated his child to study. An upright character of a son and a good example of a man for a daughter cannot be formed without the testimony of the father’s life. And a good father is the one who respects and loves his wife - mother of his children.”

Upbringing

Some strong words here: “Fathers used to support their families, were patriarchs, protectors, authorities, mediators and dealt with the most important family matters. Today, fathers are mothers’ partners, aggressors, alcoholics or losers whose words do not count. They can also be their children’s mates. Thus a contemporary boy cannot find an ideal of man and does not know what it means to be a father and husband.”

The whole article can be read here but I think there’s plenty of space for debate over this one.

Is the two-parent mother-father family relationship the ultimate best for a child’s upbringing? Has the role of fatherhood been lost in society? What do you think?