People living in the North report better relationships with mums than dads
RESEARCH by Relate, the leading
relationships charity, has found that people in the North of England are less
likely to report a very good relationship with their dads than with their mums.
In the poll of over 5,000 people across the UK aged 16+, only 47% of people in
the North of England reported a very good relationship with their dads, compared
to 55% with their mums.
In addition, 6% of respondents described their relationship with their dads as
fairly bad and 3% described it as very bad. This compares to 5% who described
their relationship with their mums as fairly bad and 1% who described it as very
bad.
In response to these findings, and with Father's Day just around the corner,
Susie Woods, counsellor at Relate Cheshire & Merseyside says there are things
both fathers and children can do to enhance their relationships with one
another. She said:- "Every dad's different, but some can find it tricky to
express their emotions, which can affect the way their children perceive the
relationship. Sometimes, fathers may try to show they care by offering help with
practical things like finances or driving lessons, but shy away from providing
emotional support. This means people may feel closer to their mum than their
dad, when in fact their relationship with their dad is just as strong. I'd
advise fathers who're struggling to communicate with their kids to take a few
more risks; tell your teenage son that you're there to talk if he ever needs to,
or give your grown up daughter a hug. It may feel uncomfortable to start with if
you haven't always been this open, but it's never too late to start and it'll
show your kids how much you really care. The same goes for children; even as
adults, tell your dad how much you care this Father's Day and other days of the
year as well."
Susie Woods's tips for better communication with dads...
► Notice actions as well as words: Some dads do things rather than say them. Maybe
your dad doesn't tell you he loves you but he shows he cares by reminding you to
wear your bike helmet or helping you to move house.
► Take more risks; Share how you're really feeling with
1 another, even if it
seems unnatural at 1st.
► Make use of technology like:- Skype, WhatsApp, Facebook, texting and other social
media give you more ways to keep in touch with each other and express emotion
even when you don't live together. It may be easier to write something rather
than say what you feel.
► Have a regular meet up; It sounds obvious, but spending quality time together
enhances bonds between dads and their children. Make it a regular event, whether
it's Sunday lunch or watching the football together.
► Don't stop trying; Remember that we all have the ability to learn new skills and
improve the way we communicate with one another, no matter what our age or
gender.
Relate Cheshire and Merseyside offers information, advice and counselling for all
stages of relationships, including helping families to build and maintain strong
relationships. For more information visit:-
Relatecm.Org.UK
or call:- 0300 330 5793.
