Stop the dad bashing

Dad's are the central figure in the identity formation of a child … Dads have an authority in a child's life that is unmatched by any other person.

There are three questions a child must have answered by both a mum and a dad:

1. What do you believe about me?
2. How do you feel about me?
3. What are your hopes for me?

Children who don't have those questions answered by their fathers live in chaos, I know, I see this … our prisons are filled with men like this because they've never had these questions answered by their dads.

A dad believes in his children, loves and has high hopes for them. A father sees past the insecurities and doubts that his son may have because he has the age and wisdom to know that those are temporary things which can be overcome.

Around one quarter of all Australian families with children are single parent families and 81% of those are fatherless. One 2016 Australian study showed that only 53% of children will still be living with both biological parents by the time they turn 17.

Fatherlessness is becoming a public health crisis.

Only 53% of children will still be living with both biological parents by the time they turn 17.

I recently watched a news story interview with Jordan, a typical nine-year old boy from the US who was asked what he would ask for if granted three wishes. I immediately thought of the Starlight Foundation and all the wishes they get from kids. The most popular wishes from little boys under 10 years are mostly:

• To meet a hero
• To go on an adventure

Most of the boys wanted to meet and hang out with a police officer or a fireman, but also meet a sports star, a celebrity, or a man who had done something brave and adventurous such as an astronaut. The adventure requests were things like fun adventures to places like Disneyland or Sea World or a trip to explore a place like Iceland or look at a thing like a Navy ship or big machinery like trucks and tractors (and fire trucks and police cars).

So I was surprised when Jordan replied:

"Family. Family. Family - that's the only wishes I have"

Jordan had been in foster care for six years since he was three. His younger brother had been adopted out sometime before. He went on to explain: