This is a comment by Eric M. on the post “Respecting My Growing Daughter’s Body“.
No need to feel weird or awkwatd about playing with your own children, male or female. That’s what fathers do. If you feel awkward, you will act awkward, and that is what she will remember. That may eventually cause her to feel awkward which doesn’t bode well for growing an airtight relationship. Trust me, as she gets older, she will very much need that airtight relationship with her dad and mom.
Just love them both equally, and play with them however they like being played with. I rough house with my daughters because they love it. If one did and the other didn’t, I would adjust. THE most important thing is for both to be 100% convinced that they are equally and genuinely loved.
Photo credit: Flickr / dottiemae
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How does one not feel awkward?
Focus on being her dad and her being your child, not just a girl. Trust me when I tell you that if you don’t stay close to her for the first 11-12 years of her life, the next 7 or 8 will be very long. She needs you to shake this whole awkward business and be her dad.
Great comment. I’ve always been one of the most self-conscience people I know, but when it comes to kids it all goes away. Maybe that’s my payback for all the shyness. I can sure understand why people can feel awkward in those situations. Especially in this day and age when any interest in kids by a male puts you on long-term pedophile watch. Whatever, screw-em.
I very much agree with Eric here. We need to send the signal to our children (boys and girls alike) that they are OK, that their bodies are OK, that their emerging sexuality is OK, and that we as parents are here for them – always. And we should not allow our relationships with our children to become sexualized, be it out of shame or out of fear what others will think.