Dad, if you want your daughters to be strong, independent women, then you need to man the fuck up.

Hello everyone, this has been on my heart for a very long time but I wanted to voice it because it's really important to me and it probably applies to a lot of people.<br><br>Something I've learned from other strong women and my own personal experience, is that the relationship a girl has with her father sets the tone for the rest of her life.<br><br>It's a very simple but fundamental concept; if you treat a girl right, you'll create a strong independent woman. If you treat her poorly, there will be baggage, insecurities and issues to deal with. The same can be said for the mother/son relationship, but that's a different story.<br><br>I've never had a relationship with my dad, and because of this, I've had my fair share of insecurities and low self esteem at times. It didn't really click for me until recently; why I am so independent, why I take care of myself, why I'm strong willed. It's because I don't have a father to rely on. No "dad pep talks" or "dad hugs" in my life. I've had to take care of myself because no one else will, and if anything were to happen to my mom, I would completely be on my own.<br><br>I've always noticed that the girls in my life with very supportive, caring and kind dads have an unshakeable confidence and self esteem. They are happy, proud, strong, independent women who take care of themselves and value their own time. They have healthy relationships with men, they are successful and have their lives together. They know *how* to take care of themselves, and when to ask for help on their own terms.<br><br>Then there are the girls with absent, abusive or neglectful fathers who are a different story. We struggle with loving ourselves, and others. We rely too heavily on our partners, and we settle. We have a hard time saying no, and standing up for ourselves. We are self destructive, sometimes we hate ourselves, or we have too much pride to accept help when we need it.<br><br>This is why it is so important for father's to be involved and active in their daughter's life. To be supportive and caring, to listen, to advice and to take care of your little girl. If you want your daughter to be a strong independent woman one day, you need to treat her like a queen. Treated her right and she will thrive, treat her poorly and she will suffer.<br><br>If you're a single mom raising your daughter alone, I applaud you. It's not easy, I know. If you're a dad who is checking in on this post, hold your head high and keep doing your best. And if you're a father who is neglecting or abusing your daughter in any way, or treating her poorly, you're doing irreparable damage to an innocent life. Get your act together and take responsibility for your daughter.<br><br>Thank you so much for listening to me, I hope that my words have made an positive impact on someone, and I hope that it resonates with people.<br><br>Edit: Thank you all so much for the feedback and support, it's been so uplifting to hear from so many people and connect with you all. Rarely do I get this much interaction on any of my posts, and it's been so nice to hear your stories and advice. Sending lots of love to the people who need it <3