Do daughters really identify with mothers and sons with fathers? Several studies have led psychologists to conclude that the parent of the same gender as the child has a special influence on that child’s development. While children love parents of the opposite gender, they share a special bond with the same-sex parent. Therefore, fathers have a very strong influence on the behavior of sons, while mothers have a strong influence on the behavior of daughters. Speak with one of our child custody lawyers today.
How Same-Gender Parents Influence Their Children
Gender identification is one of the basic building blocks of children’s personalities. Regardless of whether parents stay together or not, children will look to the parent who shares their gender for cues as to how to behave. This begins very early and extends to adulthood.
If children receive negative messages from their parents about their same-sex parent, they may be stalled in their development. This can have lasting consequences for the entire family. Therefore, it is critical to allow children to develop a strong relationship with both parents even when the parents are divorced, unless there is a pressing reason not to do so.
Practical Applications
While children identify strongly with their same-sex parent, it does not mean that they must always make the same mistakes. When approached correctly, behavior modification can be very successful, particularly if both parents are supportive.
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What these findings mean for the average man going through a divorce is that he should take steps to shield his children from the harm that can come from a poor relationship with the former spouse. These steps include:
- Never discuss the other parent’s shortcomings with the child. One way to deflect conversations away from shaming and reproach is to allow children to vent if they choose to do so but to respond with neutral statements, such as, “I can see how you would be upset at that.” This focuses the child’s attention on his or her own feelings, which is an important first step in dealing with negative emotions.
- Always find positive things to say about your child. It helps if you can give the other spouse credit. For example, if you can say, “You are very helpful to others. You get that from your mom,” it gives the child permission to be like the mother in a positive way and to know that you support her. Remember, children may be afraid that you will hate the parts of them that are like their other parent. Prove to them that this is not true by your words and actions.
- Allow children to develop their own opinions and feelings. Your children do not have to share every opinion or personality trait with you. They are individuals and should be allowed to grow as such, even if those opinions or traits bring up painful memories.
If you are facing a divorce, contact the Men’s Legal Center. We can help you with the legal aspects of your case, freeing you to focus your attention on helping your children deal with your impending divorce. Read more about special cases for child custody, such as child custody while traveling, or child support from a different state.