Family  Discussion Forum

What do you think about the role of fathers in our lives? Do you wish to share experiences you had with your father? Are you a father who would like to share his experiences of fatherhood? virgo replied. Our fathers (and mothers) are in a major way responsible for what we grow up to become. This is the reason we express gratitude to them.

What about bad fathers who neglected or abused their children.

If this adverse form of fathering plays a positive role in a person' s life by forcing him to cultivate strength, resilience and discrimination, should he be grateful to his father?

What if such a father drives a person to grow up with all the wrong values? Is the person responsible, when it is his father who had a role to play in this? Any thoughts? nidhi replied. hi, a father is special and irreplaceable...i agree when you say you don' t miss having one but that is because no one is indispensable but some relationships are to be cherished. we may love them out of selfishness but it is through these relationships that we learn to share and care and live beyond ourselves... shanta replied. my dad has been the wind beneath my wings...I agree with Houston for my dad--\" did you ever know that you' re my hero, you are everything I wanted to be, you are the wind beneath my wings\" ...he is no more and I miss him like hell blueeyed boy replied. Dads can' t be perfect. Because no one can be. But we love them nevertheless. Because true love is unconditional. And there are so many things, their protectiveness, the way they guide you, they are always so knowledgable, the way they dote on their children. niradh replied. my father never put any pressure on me to be like him or be anything. he just loved us, cared for us, shared his interests with us, and usually put our wishes ahead of his own.

but today i realise the person i am is so much like what he was. this has nothing to do with the way he brought me up, but my own response to his influence in my life.

my brother grew up under the same influence, and had an equally strong bond with dad, but cannot be said to have inherited the same interest or worldview.
ved replied. My dad is hte best dad in the whole wide world. He' s been with me ever since i came into this world and has been very loving and caring every single minute. He has even cleaned my potty and given me bath etc.. as a dad he scores 100/100. cheers to my dad!! Varun replied. I never had a father. Never saw him. He left my mother when I was too young. I hope I never meet him. I dont feel the need for a father figure. I' m my own father. I dont look to others for guidance, unless the person is qualified in that area of expertise.

Relationships such as father, mother, sister, and brother are completely natural...There' s nothing eternal about them. You love them out of your own selfishness..If it was unconditional, why do you love only your parents? Why cant you love every person in this world? Jade replied. my father is often away for long periods for his work. when he comes home he talks loudly and orders us about. it is irritating. i like only my mother. it feels like having a guest at home when dad comes. i feel no connection to him. he makes no effort to understand our lifestyle. Tishna replied. I don' t understand how you can ' repay' someone' s love. It' s like saying if someone gifts you, got to gift them back something of the same value. How demeaning is that. We do things because we want to. if you think your fathr should be repaid, you are also saying that he provided for uyou out of a sense of duty. Let us spread love and cheer. There is no need for debts and guilt when the stem of your actions is your own desire. Tishna replied. Nice and warm article. We should love and respect our fathers. however, I do not believe that one should follow in one' s father' s footsteps or fulfil their unfulfilled dreams. You are your own person after all. Your father would only wish you to do what brought you happiness, not someone else' s dreams. Chintan replied. This brings tears to my eyes. I feel guilty that I have never been able to repay what my father has done for me. Maybe, one can repay it by selflessly loving our kids.