Dads for Life

Dads for life is a national fathers movement headed by MCYS (Ministry of Community & Youth Services). We have a high number of pupils in my school coming from a single parent background and in most cases its the mother of the child in the picture. Researches have been done on how the quality of a father-child ralationship, the amount of time spent togther and the parenting style impacts a child in terms of cognitive , socio-emotional and At-risk behaviours. Needless to say, when there is positive father involvement in a child's life, the child has a higher IQ, higher linguistic ability, better academic achievement, better social emotional competencies (better ability to cope, secure attachments, moral maturity,rpo-social behaviour) and lesser at-risk behaviours (delinquencies, theft, substance abuse, truancy).

Some Findings
In UK, even controlling for mother involvement, father involvement at age 7 was found to be significantly associated with educational attainment at age 20 (Flouri 2005).

US Department of Education study found that children are 43% more likely to earn mostly As and 33% less likely to repeat a grade (Nord & West, 2001).

In Singapore, Dr Ong Ai Choo (2000) found that good fathering was associated with adolescents’ positive school engagement and higher academic achievement.

AT the same time studies have also shown that children exhibited more conduct problems when their parents engaged in anti-social behaviours and were more aggressive and delinquent when subjected to harsh parenting techniques.

In my life my dad was always there for me. I should thank him for the leadership traits, practical mind, the strength and the values he has instilled in me. I know he favours me over my brother anytime and its very evident sometimes. Im the the gem in daddy's eyes and not to mention that im daddy's little (far from that ;)) girl! I know my dad is proud of who I am and my achievements so far but at the same time ive also subjected him to many disappointments when it comes to relationships. But I knew he loved me when he gave in to my happiness and silently backed me up when the men he rejected turned out to be the jerks he expected of them. I still hold the guilt in me for hiding the truth to protect this jerks. Ive been daddy's 'secretary' all these while, collecting rents for him, writing up business agreements, renewing business licences etc. I know he is going to be lost without me and me without him.