Kristy Wood has been volunteering at a number of Girl to Woman local market stalls in the lead up to the 2018 G2W Festival at Lennox Head. Here she shares some of the conversations she has had with dads regarding the upcoming Festival.
What I have noticed is just how much dads respond to the Festival.
At one of the markets, a mother and father walked into the stall with their six year old daughter. The daughter eagerly sat down to have her nails painted and the father asked what the festival is about. When we shared that it is about celebrating and appreciating girls for who they are and what they bring, he loved this and said it was very needed.
He shared that he was a truck driver who had worked in the industry for many years. He told us how he used to work long hours and how he would try to push each job to get it done as fast as he could. “Now since my daughter has come along, it’s totally different. There is nothing more that I love than to come home to her , and while I want to get back to her as quick as I can, I don’t push it anymore because I want to make sure I get home”.
When he went on to share how much he loved having a daughter, she overheard him speaking and she lit up.
“When she came along it changed me,” he said, “it softened me and I just totally adore her. There is nothing more gorgeous than when I get to come home and look at her or cuddle her.”
His appreciation for his daughter and what she brings to his life was bursting out of him.
About twenty minutes later, another family came along who also had a six-year-old girl. Within minutes her father was opening up about the pressures of working long hours as a medical specialist.
He also realised the need to look after himself more, as it had begun to affect how much he could interact and be there for his daughter. “Now I make sure I rest when I can because spending time and being with her is really important to me,” he said. He then shared what he loved about having a daughter: “You get home from these night shifts and then a few hours later in the morning she will come into the room and her smile just brightens up the place.”
It was as if these men had so much that they wanted to share about how much of a joy it is for them to have a daughter, but they had not had an avenue to say it.
I was reflecting on these men as I drove away from the markets. I realised that so often we don’t have these conversations. We will often talk about how challenging it is raising kids, which it is. But how often do parents, fathers in particular, stop and get the opportunity to share with others the blessing that a daughter brings to their lives? I realised how important it is to make the space to express the love that is there.
I have noticed in my years as a teacher that, as girls approach their teen years, those who have fathers who openly cherish and adore them and have not held this back, often have a more solid sense of themselves. They seem to be more comfortable in their own skin and are not as easily swayed but able to hold more steady in themselves.
By Kristy Wood
The Girl To Woman Festival takes place at Lennox Head Sunday the 21st of January. For more information and to book tickets, please visit the website: http://girltowoman.com.au. The first 150 young women who book online will receive a free giftbag.
About twenty minutes later, another family came along who also had a six-year-old girl. Within minutes her father was opening up about the pressures of working long hours as a medical specialist.
He also realised the need to look after himself more, as it had begun to affect how much he could interact and be there for his daughter. “Now I make sure I rest when I can because spending time and being with her is really important to me,” he said. He then shared what he loved about having a daughter: “You get home from these night shifts and then a few hours later in the morning she will come into the room and her smile just brightens up the place.”
It was as if these men had so much that they wanted to share about how much of a joy it is for them to have a daughter, but they had not had an avenue to say it.
I was reflecting on these men as I drove away from the markets. I realised that so often we don’t have these conversations. We will often talk about how challenging it is raising kids, which it is. But how often do parents, fathers in particular, stop and get the opportunity to share with others the blessing that a daughter brings to their lives? I realised how important it is to make the space to express the love that is there.
I have noticed in my years as a teacher that, as girls approach their teen years, those who have fathers who openly cherish and adore them and have not held this back, often have a more solid sense of themselves. They seem to be more comfortable in their own skin and are not as easily swayed but able to hold more steady in themselves.
By Kristy Wood
The Girl To Woman Festival takes place at Lennox Head Sunday the 21st of January. For more information and to book tickets, please visit the website: http://girltowoman.com.au. The first 150 young women who book online will receive a free giftbag.
