A father is the first man that a boy knows in life. And for some boys, their first encounter with masculinity may come from the men whom they are surrounded by as they grow older. This can be either positive or negative, depending on how this relationship between father and son evolves over time. Girls on the other hand have this natural tendency to attach themselves to their mothers from a very young age. So, this might be the reason why girls tend to have a better relationship with their mothers than boys do with their fathers.
How can one define what constitutes a good father-son relationship? Is it about how much time they spend together? Or is it about the quality of time together? Or maybe, how often does he support and encourage his son in the latter’s endeavors?
The following are some of the factors that can affect father-son relationships:
Age Gap between Father and Son
When there is a huge age gap between the father and son, they may not be able to relate to each other easily. This is compounded if the son grows up without a mother figure to help him understand his father’s ways.
In these cases, communication between these two can be really challenging. The father may lack the interest in trying to get close with his young son because he probably looks different from what he had in mind for a parenting partner.
On the other hand, young boys tend to find older men as their role models. And in cases where the father is well-experienced in life and has a stable career, there can be a lot of good things that they can impart to their sons.
Cultural Difference between Father and Son
It can also affect how these two relate to each other if the son comes from a different culture as compared to his father. It can be harder for both of them to understand each other because they may value certain things differently.
Genetics also plays a role in how these two relate to each other. There are cases where boys have no problems developing good relationships with their fathers even though they do not resemble one another.
Other Factors that can Affect Father-Son Relationship
If a father has other healthy relationships with his son’s mother, it can help them bond. This is a plus factor because these two will have a common person to talk about and share their feelings with.
Fathers who show good leadership skills in their families are also ideal in providing emotional support to all the members of the household.
Fathers who are supportive of their son’s choices can help them build up a strong bond with their child. This will make it easier for them to relate with each other even if they have nothing in common or when there is a huge age gap between them.
Having a good and healthy male role model in your life is very important. This will help you develop a stronger relationship with your father when you grow up. However, if this is not the case for some fathers and sons, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there is no hope for them to have better relationships with each other. There are ways that can help them build up a strong bond with one another. One of these is seeking suitable therapy for both of them. During this pandemic, online therapy may be a smart choice. It is important to have a thorough study about kinds of therapy and pick out the one which is suitable for your relationship.
Conclusion
The relationship between fathers and sons is one of the most memorable relationships that one can have. It is important to understand how this bond can affect your life as you grow older. There are some factors that may affect it like the age gap, cultural difference, genetics, etc. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there’s no hope for you to have a strong relationship with your father. Finding a suitable way for your relationship is the thing that you should do.