If kids get too aggressive, we say, Hey, shut it down or we ll stop. Fathers encourage risk-taking and independence. Mothers are more cautious and focus on affiliation with family. This doesn t mean that we should separate out men and women to have specialized roles, but what moms and dads bring to the parenting equation is unique and complementary. We need to say to men, What you do as a father is critical to the well-being of your kid.
More men seem to be listening.
Levine quoted a 1996 Consumer Survey Center poll of men in their 30s and 40s done for Levi Strauss and Co. that found 84 percent of baby-boomer men equate success with being a good father. Other studies confirm that men find their primary emotional, personal and spiritual gratification in a family setting. But many men find it hard to be both a good employee and a committed father. I have been researching and working with fathers for more than two decades, Levine writes in his book s introduction, but 15 years ago, even 10, I never would have imagined this scene. Realizing how important being an involved dad is to some employees and that they are likely to be better workers if they are given flexibility to accommodate family needs many companies are now trying to create a father-friendly culture at work.