Roots and Wings

The following is a thoughtful and timely editorial by guest blogger Angelia Phillips.  Angelia is an author and internet radio Hostess and a strong supporter of our troops who are in harms way.  First and foremost she is a Mom.  She is a Gold Star Mom of SPC Micheal “Pokey” Phillips who was Killed In Action on February 24. 2008 in Shulla, Iraq.  You can check out her blog  at:   Knottie’s Niche.

There are two gifts all parents should give their children.. roots and wings. Mothers tend to be the ones who give a child their roots. Things like manners and boundaries. That stability every one of use needs. Fathers however tend to give children their wings. It’s Dad who encourages kids to get up and try it again and to take that chance. It starts off young when dad laughs as a toddler tumbles and mom flaps around worried. There is a balance of mom and dad that create a balance in children. Dads often in today’s society do not get the credit they so deserve.

In the past several decades, the United States has become the world leader in fatherless families. Currently, 34% of American children live without their biological father.

50 years ago the Great Society program implemented eligibility requirements that cut off welfare benefits if the father resided with the mother – the so-called “man-in-the-house” rule. Low-income fathers found themselves pitted against the government to compete for the loyalty of poor mothers. Soon Liberals, especially feminist launched a campaign against fatherhood altogether.

Studies now show that children who grow up without a strong father influence have a higher rate of asthma, headaches, anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems. Teenagers are at greater risk of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use, and suicide Adolescent girls are 3 times more likely to engage in sexual relations by the time they turn 15 and 5 times more likely to become a teen mother. Girls are also more likely to become involved in abusive relationships and suffer from eating disorders.

It is also been shown that homes with a strong father influence have children kids were more likely to do well and enjoy school, and participate in extracurricular activities. Children with active involved fathers also demonstrate “a greater ability to take initiative and evidence self-control.”

For years society has been convinced that the role of a Father is unimportant and therefore we have excluded fathers more and more. Our children are paying a high price for this and the tides are now turning.

Kids need the roots that a mother give them but they also need the wings of self-confidence a father gives them.

Tagged as: Fatherless Families, Fathers, Mothers