Is having a father in the home crucial in raising children?

I was raised by a single mother and she did a great job raising me. I have turned out to be a respectable, professional person; however, as I got older, I began missing my father. There was a void there no one fill but him. He was "around" and I could easily reach him, but not in the household. We have a great relationship now and I remember him telling me something that struck me. One day I fessed up to him some very painful and embarrassing segments of my life when I was very young and even up to college. He said with a sigh, "I am so sorry I wasn't around more. If I were, I really believe the things you've been through could've been avoided if I were there to guide you".

I strongly believe that it is crucial and critical to have the patriarch IN the home. Whenever I discuss this with some women, they totally dismiss the father's importance in the home. It's almost like you have to prove why they are necessary. I've never had anyone downplay the importance of a mother in the home, so why fathers?

I think it's very beneficial......but I wouldn't go as far as saying its a necessity. I was raised by single mother too......my father was in the house until they broke up and I just lived with my mother. I lived with my dad during the summer. I am by no means trying to downplay the significance of a father and I would much prefer to raise my kids in a two parent household, but The hard truth is that couples have problems and its not always prudent for the both parent to live together. Whether the child lives with the mother or the father.....both parents need to be heavily involved. You can accomplish that without having to live together.

I would have been overjoyed if my father was not at home. My Mama raised us all and she did a terrific job with all of us.

I don't think having two parents at home is 'crucial,' but it's definitely beneficial. However, if both parents are actively involved in their child's life, then that's what's ultimately important, even if the child only lives with the one.

I agree with Chris in that it might not be "crucial" but I think it is definitely a plus. A child needs a father and a mother, and they need them to actually BE parents in action and not just be creeps or enablers who happen to be biological parents.

Forgiveness Man wrote:I agree with Chris in that it might not be "crucial" but I think it is definitely a plus. A child needs a father and a mother, and they need them to actually BE parents in action and not just be creeps or enablers who happen to be biological parents.

^This. Maybe we turned out as well as we did because we had a father, but I doubt it, I think, had we been able to survive by ourselves, our mother could've done a better job alone.

Nystyle709 wrote:I think it's very beneficial......but I wouldn't go as far as saying its a necessity. I was raised by single mother too......my father was in the house until they broke up and I just lived with my mother. I lived with my dad during the summer. I am by no means trying to downplay the significance of a father and I would much prefer to raise my kids in a two parent household, but The hard truth is that couples have problems and its not always prudent for the both parent to live together. Whether the child lives with the mother or the father.....both parents need to be heavily involved. You can accomplish that without having to live together.

I don't know. I am bending over backwards right now to make sure we live together until my son is 18, but I don't know that he will miss out on anything if we live separately. He will go to his dad for what he needs from him, and have me all the time.

I think living apart is much better if being together creates a sad home.