Women Discuss Common Parenting Mistakes Dads Make When Raising Daughters

It must be utterly terrifying to be a parent, knowing that anything you say or do (no matter how seemingly trivial at the time) has the potential to mess up your kid enough that they bring it up in therapy some day as an adult. Dads raising daughters opens up a whole other can of worms of potential parenting fails. In my own personal experience, I always felt like my dad had trouble relating to me and my sister when we were little. He often did stereotypical 'boy' things with us, not because he was making some sort of statement about treating girls and boys the same, but because he had no idea what a little girl would even be into. Luckily for him, we loved outdoor activities, LEGO, action figures, video games, sporting events, and even enjoyed the times he made us go to the golf driving range with him. But when it came to our experiences and emotions that were nuanced by girlhood, my dad didn't really even try to understand—he left that stuff up to my mom. I don't blame him at all, but I wonder sometimes if it was a mistake on his part—maybe he could have learned something about girls.

A curious dad recently hopped on to r/askreddit to get some insight straight from the daughters of Reddit. Keep scrolling for the best responses.

Posted by Mel Dawn

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Via u/Bluemonday82
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"Wild. My daughter is on the cusp of adolescence, and I've noticed that she is wanting less hugs, kisses, etc. It's not a problem for me, and I kinda figured she's just growing out of that stuff." —u/Only_Indication_9715

"I'm in the opposite boat. My(48m) daughter(12f) is beginning to notice her body changing and for a couple different reasons she isn't comfortable hugging anymore. I don't pressure her for hugs, of course, but I do miss hugging my girl." —u/dancin-weasel

Via u/yuffieisathief
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"This. My dad still isolates in his TV room. My fondest memory with him is watching the Drew Carey Whose Line? regularly and absolutely dying of laughter. But yeah, it was up to me to check in with him if I wanted any sort of connection. Otherwise, it's just him and his sh*tty cop investigation shows. I usually call my mom once a week. He and I text each other on holidays." —u/mephistophe_SLEAZE

Via u/katie_kat
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"Dad of an almost 4 year old daughter with two older brothers…. I'm scouring this post like there is cash on it somewhere." —u/Feeling_Advantage108

Via u/Bluemonday82
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"My best friend has THE BEST relationship with her dad. Not because they're similar. They are polar opposites. But the dad always makes time to just talk to his daughter. He knows so much about baking from just listening to his daughter and being in the kitchen while she bakes. Literally just being there and getting to know you kid makes all the difference." —u/DenseWheat113

Via u/Dangerous_Contact737
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"One year when I was in elementary, my mom left a comically large piece of paper on the front door for my dad telling him not to forget to wish me a happy birthday. Not only did he not wish me a happy birthday, but he somehow didn't see the gigantic sign when he walked in the house from work. So I got to read it when I got home from school. Sometimes I think about calling him to check in but then I think of that (and other complete fumbles) and then I just don't" —u/TetonsTeaTin

Via u/Lazylioness17
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"'Here come the waterworks' jfc" —u/awww_shit45

Via u/Not_a_werecat
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Via u/Logical_Seat_8
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Via u/wi2ny05
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Via u/LeaBee89
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Via u/Neonpantsuit
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"We always rotated the chores. My oldest daughter was much better at mowing the lawn than any of my sons." —u/Bob_12_Pack

Via u/yourlittlebirdie
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Via u/pralineislife
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Via u/NoAnything1731