But a 1996 Gallup poll on fathering shows that there are still unmistakable obstacles between children and fathers, a fact that's as upsetting to Dad as to the kids. Nearly 8 in 10 respondents said the most significant family problem facing America is the absence of fathers in the home. And even when they are physically present, they may be emotionally distant. The same amount said most people have unresolved problems with their fathers. Only one adult male in three said he felt ''at peace'' with his father.
Experts say today's dads are caught in cultural hypocrisy.
Better than 60 percent said family-friendly policies would help them perform better on the job. And 75 percent of respondents to a 1987 Fortune magazine poll said they'd jump at the chance to trade rapid career advancement for family time. It would be a good investment. Dad's presence Besides the emotional payoff for dads, their increased involvement has huge benefits for kids. According to Young Children, the journal of the National Association for the Education of Young Children, more dad-time increases children's academic performance, sense of control and cognitive development.