Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters by Meg Meeker

I grew up in a very masculine home with two brothers and no sisters. I have a very sweet mother and a strong, Godly father. So when Teri and I found out our first child was going to be a boy, I was relieved. And when we found out our next two were going to be girls, I was nervous!

Because our son Grant is our oldest and our only son, I have always felt very responsible for his upbringing and growth. With our daughters, however, I have not been too sure of what my role is. I have vaguely my importance as their father, but frankly felt that my job was to just kinda be there for them, tell them they looked cute, and then to help their mother get on with rearing them.

This book showed me that nothing could be further from the truth! It shows me that I have a vitally important role in my daughters life, and it gave me much motivation, courage, and practical ideas for how to be a strong father that raises strong daughters.

Below are just a few great quotes that I go from the book. I hope they will inspire many other fathers of daughters to read and re-read this book.

You will be the most important man in her life, forever.

Your daughter wants a hero—and she has chosen you.

Whatever outward impression she gives, her life is centered on discovering what you like in her, and what you want from her. She knows you are smarter than she is. She gives you authority because she needs you to love and adore her. She can’t feel good about herself until she knows that you feel good about her. So you need to use your authority carefully and wisely. Your daughter doesn’t want to see you as an equal. She wants you to be her hero…

Authority is not a threat to your relationship with your daughter—it is what will bring you closer to your daughter, and what will make her respect you more.

Many fathers complain that their teenage daughters won’t talk to them. They’re usually wrong. It’s just that these fathers have discouraged their daughters from talking to them. Daughters won’t talk if they know the result will be only constant reprimand and correction.

I am convinced that if fathers recruited even 20 percent of the intellectual, physical, mental, and even emotional energy they spend at work and applied it to their relationships at home, we would live in an entirely different country.