Dads and Daughters: We were all at Bindiya’s place for dinner today,  and had an interesting conversation which I wanted to share with you. What is the role of the father in influencing a girl’s life?

My dad, inadvertently for the most part, played a huge role in shaping who I was growing up and still influences me in more ways than I care to admit! Growing up, he would be the keeper of my education and the carver of my career path, meeting with my teachers etc, or he would be my social manger, deciding which parties I could go for or not…He encouraged me to read certain books or try particular foods etc. His role was great in determining my religious beliefs, and even today he influences my spiritual journey greatly! He was terribly strict, intolerant of any deviant behavior and was quick to punish. I grew up with a heavy sense of what a good, Punjabi girl is supposed to do and not do.

I was wondering at today’s dinner if the girls today are influenced in the same way, I and many girls of my background were…And from what Bindiya and the other moms said, it would seem so!! While the moms today are  huge role models for the young girls, dads and papas continue to have a great influence on our daughters. Dads’ behavior, love and attitude all go a looong way in shaping the confidence levels of the young girls. Fascinating! I wonder if it’s the same story with our sons though….