Nature or nurture?
Socialization has an effect… to a point. There is something else going on that’s difficult to pinpoint. Could it be that a young child’s ideas about “mothers” and “fathers” are a part of a natural order that is integral to a child’s psychological fabric? Is being raised by a father and mother who love each other and their children the “gold standard” for healthy families? Or is this view an anachronism that should be cast into the dustbin of history? Are our ideas about fathering due completely to how we were socialized?
If children were given a vote, I think they would say that they want both their mothers and fathers in their lives because of an inner voice, not because of what someone told them to say.
If you would like to learn more about my approach to fathering, visit www.aboutdadsradio.com where you can read my blog and listen to my About Dads Radio podcasts.