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Expert Q&A
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| By Adolph Brown Psychologist | ||
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How can a father be more involved in his infant's life?
One of the most important ways for the father to be involved is through assisting the mother of the child in caretaking responsibilities and roles. Mothers often have to remember to allow the father to be involved, by creating opportunities when they do not always exist.
Mothers can also facilitate the father's involvement through subtle encouragement and praise -- remembering that the roles and duties involved in fatherhood are quite different from those of the nurturing and caretaking mother. This does not mean that fathers can't be good nurturers or caretakers, however, these roles are often assumed by mothers leaving fathers with extremely marginal roles during infancy. Some fathers prefer the distance while others become frustrated. (Be extremely sensitive.)
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