Traditionally, many people believed that mothers were more important to a child than their fathers. This was especially true when the children were female.
Things have moved on somewhat, and most (but not all) people have come to realize that children need both parents. One researcher decided to look specifically at why daughters need their dads. They found the relationship proved crucial in three main areas:
#1. Mental health
The study concluded that dads teach their girls to cope with the ups and downs of life better than their moms. While it won’t be true in all cases, the belief is that many mothers are more protective of their daughters while dads expose them to more risks. As a girl grows up she can look back on all those things that did not quite go as planned and realize that she survived them, so she will be able to survive the next time something goes wrong.
#2. Money
The research suggests that daughters learn a lot about risk from their dads and are more prepared to take the kind of risks that are needed to gain a promotion or succeed in business. Their education also benefits when their fathers are present, and getting better grades means they grow up with more earning power.
#3. Men
Do all girls need a male figure in their life? Maybe. What is certain from the research is that girls who already have a reliable one, in the shape of their father, are less inclined to seek an unsuitable male figure elsewhere.
Those are just some of the reasons to seek a more even parenting split if you are divorcing. Getting legal help to understand how to negotiate it will be crucial.