We NEED Dads

Speaking of dads, my dad sent me an article written by George Will.  The article was interesting but what he most wanted me to see was the statistic on how many children are being born to single mothers in our country.

Get Ready...

41% of American children are born to unwed mothers
53% of Hispanic children are born to unwed mothers
72% of African American children are born to unwed mothers

We both thought the numbers would be high but were shocked at how high.

We need dads.  As a society, how can we be o.k. with these statistics?  Don't women understand how necessary dads are to raising well adjusted children. Don't have sex with men who aren't going to stick around.  Protect yourself and really protect any children you might bring into the world from the sad consequences of life without a daddy.

Here's some statistics about the importance of dad's in children's lives: 

Quotes from www.childwelfare.gov
1. A number of studies suggest that fathers who are involved, nurturing, and playful with their infants have children with higher IQs, as well as better linguistic and cognitive capacities. Toddlers with involved fathers go on to start school with higher levels of academic readiness. They are more patient and can handle the stresses and frustrations associated with schooling more readily than children with less involved fathers.¹⁰

2. The influence of a father's involvement on academic achievement extends into adolescence and young adulthood. Numerous studies find that an active and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and academic achievement among adolescents.¹¹ For instance, a 2001 U.S. Department of Education study found that highly involved biological fathers had children who were 43 percent more likely than other children to earn mostly As and 33 percent less likely than other children to repeat a grade.¹²

3. One study of school-aged children found that children with good relationships with their fathers were less likely to experience depression, to exhibit disruptive behavior, or to lie and were more likely to exhibit pro-social behavior.²¹ This same study found that boys with involved fathers had fewer school behavior problems and that girls had stronger self-esteem.²² In addition, numerous studies have found that children who live with their fathers are more likely to have good physical and emotional health, to achieve academically, and to avoid drugs, violence, and delinquent behavior.²³

If that's not enough, here's some more evidence: 

1. Fatherless children are at a dramatically greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, suicide, poor educational performance, teen pregnancy, and criminality.    -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, Survey on Child Health, Washington, DC, 1993

2. Fatherless children are at dramatically greater risk of suicide.  -- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Health Statistics, Survey on Child Health, Washington, DC, 1993.


And some more...

From The National Fatherhood Initiative

1. Children in father-absent homes are almost four times more likely to be poor. In 2011, 12 percent of children in married-couple families were living in poverty, compared to 44 percent of children in mother-only families.  -- Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Children’s Living Arrangements and Characteristics: March 2011, Table C8. Washington D.C.: 2011. - See more at: http://www.fatherhood.org/media/consequences-of-father-absence-statistics#sthash.BAQzk5Op.dpuf


2. Even after controlling for income, youths in father-absent households still had significantly higher odds of incarceration than those in mother-father families. Youths who never had a father in the household experienced the highest odds.  -- Source: Harper, Cynthia C. and Sara S. McLanahan. “Father Absence and Youth Incarceration.” Journal of Research on Adolescence 14 (September 2004): 369-397. - See more at: http://www.fatherhood.org/media/consequences-of-father-absence-statistics#sthash.BAQzk5Op.dpuf

3. Being raised by a single mother raises the risk of teen pregnancy, marrying with less than a high school degree, and forming a marriage where both partners have less than a high school degree. -- Source: Teachman, Jay D. “The Childhood Living Arrangements of Children and the Characteristics of Their Marriages.” Journal of Family Issues 25 (January 2004): 86-111. - See more at: http://www.fatherhood.org/media/consequences-of-father-absence-statistics#sthash.BAQzk5Op.dpuf


I understand that every relationship might not be as simple as a woman choosing to have a child without a father present.  Divorce happens, not necessarily at a woman's choosing, there is abuse and drugs and alcohol.  I empathize with these women.  Call me old-fashioned, but I think a woman should marry a man before they have children.  I don't think women should have intercourse with a man to whom they are not married.  If they are, I think they should be using lots of protection to protect themselves.