DADS
26 THE JEWISH VOICE & HERALD
JUNE 7, 2013
www.jvhri.org
The power of dads By Andrea Epstein, LISCW
The roles of fathers have evolved over time
Special to The Voice & Herald PROVIDENCE – We can know one thing for certain: the upcoming celebration of Father’s Day will be fi lled with greeting cards about golf and fishing. While you are enjoying your celebration, feel confident in the knowledge that fatherhood has a varied and changing history.
“The eXpLoraTion is still new.” Historically, many cultures strictly divided parenting roles. Traditionally, fathers provided fi nancial support and moral structure for their children and mothers offered emotional support and managed the day-today childrearing duties. Today, though, there seems to be more options for dads: Fathers may be single, partnered, stay-athome or work outside the house, adoptive, biological or step. The research community is catching up with 21st century realities. A 2006 report through the United States Children’s Bureau (an agency of the U.S. Health and Human Services
This 21st century dad is engaged with his kids.
In the 1950s, a dad’s domain was the office, mom’s was the family. Department), “The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children,” speaks to the wide impact that fathers have in their children’s lives: “Involved fathers bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring.” The research acknowledges that whether the “involved father” is a father figure – such as an uncle, grandfather or close family friend – or the biological male parent, his influence is still significant. Healthy connections between fathers and children reveal
positive outcomes in the research conducted, including in cognitive ability, educational achievement, psychological well-being and social behavior. Go, dads! The American Psychological Association further addresses the increased variety of ways that today’s fathers participate in their children’s lives. Twenty-fi rst century fathers are nurturers, heavily involved in their children’s daily lives and emotionally and fi nancially supportive. The possibilities are expansive compared to the lim-
ited roles of fathers of the past. This exploration is still new. For decades, the primary role of parenting fell to mothers whether or not fathers were involved. As research on fathering began in the 1970s, we clearly still have room to grow and evolve. In the meantime, enjoy your celebration with the special dads in your life.
Happy Father’s Day! ANDREA EPSTEIN, LICSW (andrea@jfsri.org) is a social worker with Kesher, the congregational outreach program of Jewish Family Service of Rhode Island and funded by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.
Father’s Day bike ride to promote a bike-friendly Newport
NEWPORT – Touro Synagogue’s Community Outreach and Social Justice Committee is supporting Bike Newport’s inaugural Elliot Kaminitz Father’s Day Bike Ride on Sunday, June 16. The ride, from 8 a.m. to noon, will promote a “bikefriendly” Newport. Elliot, a member of the congregation, was killed last year in a bicycle accident. Riders can choose to participate in a 6-, 10- or 25-mile bike course, a 2-mile walk around
Fort Adams or a pedicab ride for the 6-mile route. Youngsters can participate in a “Kid Zone” within Fort Adams that includes a protected ride for youngsters and a Safety Town to learn and practice bike skills. R EGIST ER: fathersdayride.org. CONTACT: Rabbi Marc Mandell (rabbimandel@tourosynagogue.org) about the Community Outreach and Social Justice Committee.
Zoya L. attends the Alliance Early Childhood Center. She knows that her daddy loves her because he “takes me everywhere and hugs me all the time.”
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‘A BLAST FROM THE PAST’: Dr. Banice Feinberg has a moment with his son Albert and daughter Helen, circa 1941, on the East Side of Providence.
I know my daddy (abba) loves me because he … ? “Hugs me a lot,” said Oliver G., who attends the Alliance Early Childhood Center.