Parents are superheroes

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I grew up enjoying reading Phantom, Spiderman, Superman and Batman - they were my comic-book superheroes. But, if you ask me now who my superheroes are, I would promptly say "My parents are my superheroes!" I'm sure most of you would agree with me. And, you may even place special emphasis on your working mothers being supermoms. True! How well they juggle childrearing and other responsibilities at home and work - great parenting skills and what super powers! They are certainly our real-life superheroes!

"Being a superhero is a lot of fun," says the Australian actor Chris Hemsworth. Whether he meant his silver-screen roles or his real-life role as super Dad to his three adorable children, we do not know. However, according to The Daily Telegraph (3 June, 2016), "If there was an award for Dad of the year, it would definitely go to Chris Hemsworth, who has yet again shown off his impressive father skills." So, Chris is probably enjoying his role as superfather.

In the parenting column of the Huffington Post's website, a headline reads thus: "How being a parent is like being a superhero." The article goes on to say that parenting requires bravery, resourcefulness, moral strength and a superhuman sense of humour. It also features an infographic: "11 ways moms and dads are like superheroes" by Let Me Start By Saying blogger Kim Bongiorno.

To know more about this topic, flip through the ClipBook below, which is a curation of some great infographic links from around the web. It makes for a fun read!

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11 Ways Being A Parent Is Like Being A Superhero
You don't need to tell us twice that parenting requires bravery, resourcefulness, moral strength and a superhuman sense of humor. But in case you need convincing, here are 11 ways moms and dads are like superheroes.
More at: www.huffingtonpost.com
Father's Day: Gifts From Daughter, Personalized Gifts, Unique Gifts
'A father holds his daughter's hand for a short while, but he holds her heart forever' - This saying will find an echo in the heart of every dad who has a darling daughter, and every daughter with a doting dad. With Father's Day around the corner, what can you do to make your dad feel loved, wanted and truly special? Read on for ideas for memorable ways in which to say, "I love you Dad!"

Though every day is a wonderful new opportunity to express your love for your dad, Father's Day is an occasion when you can go the extra mile to show him how much he means to you. Don't miss the chance. Apart from making your dad's day you will also be making memories for life!

Anitha Bennett is a freelance author who has written books for children from preschool to preteen levels. She also conducts workshops for parents, teachers and children.
More at: www.parentcircle.com
Father's Day Special: In Honour Of Fathers
As a little child, I used to jump straight into my Appa's arms, no matter how far away he stood from me. I had a simple trust in him. As I grew older, this trust led to falling in line with any decision Appa made for me, with no second thoughts. I accepted his choices about school and after-school activities. I took his every suggestion on books, films, music, food and life. And then, gradually, he started to do what must be the hardest thing for a parent to do - he stepped away. He moved from standing in front of me and prompting me to jump, to standing next to me and teaching me how to jump right. Now, he pushes me to have the strength to do everything myself. As a child, I did not have to face the giants that I face now as a 22-year-old. My Appa is not the kind of hero who fights my giants for me; but, the one who teaches me how to fight those giants.

Hero - is there a better word to describe one of the most important people in your life? Well, if you ask us, 'father' says it all. The role of the father has evolved significantly over the years. Once, it primarily meant little more than providing financial support and enforcing morals and principles. Today, it has changed to include being the confidant and occasional entertainer. V V S Laxman, cricketer, says, "A father's responsibility is as big as a mother's, if not more. I can definitely say, by my own experience, dads are indeed super heroes. In a world where managing things is a time-induced challenge, dads have to play a major role in a child's upbringing, and like I said, it begins from day one." Changing economic and social trends have removed the role of gender from several parental activities; so much so that today, stay-at-home dads are becoming more common. This phenomenon has largely influenced the level of impact fathers have on their children. Fathers are increasingly playing a role that has a direct bearing on the emotional quotient of a child. A father has a major influence over his child's self-esteem and sense of self-worth.

Self-esteem lays the foundation for a child's happiness, success and over-all development. It also helps cultivate a proper sense of identity and individuality in the child. That a father has an important role in nurturing the child's self-esteem is evident from several studies.

A 2015 research by Naama Atzaba-Poria of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, and Alison Pike of the University of Sussex, UK, examines the correlation between parental negativity and its effects on self-esteem in Indian and English families. It shows that maternal negativity results in lower levels of self-esteem in English children. On the other hand, paternal negativity undermines the self-esteem of Indian children. The research goes on to suggest that culture, which plays a significant role in how we run families and assign responsibilities, should be an important factor in studying parental influence.

Interestingly, there have been many studies in the past too, which have looked into the element of self-esteem and a father's influence. Back in 2012, a study by Chun Bun Lam, Susan M McHale and Ann C Crouter of Pennsylvania State University (Parent-Child Shared Time From Middle Childhood to Late Adolescence: Developmental Course and Adjustment Correlates, published in Child Development) reveals that adolescents who spent more quality time with their fathers, on an average, had better self-esteem.

"A healthy relationship between a father and a child plays a key role in the development of the child's self-esteem," says Vasuki Mathivanan, President, Chennai Counselors' Foundation. She goes on to explain that the foundation for it begins in the formative years (2-4 years) of children; a time when they are eager to explore, meet new people and enjoy things they like. When parents, especially fathers, don't spend enough time with them, don't appreciate or encourage them, restrict or pamper them too much, the child's curiosity is blocked. That's when self-doubt creeps in and children begin to question their every move. Self-doubt, says Vasuki, slowly leads to poor self-esteem.

"Children learn a lot from their fathers, especially respect," claims Vasuki. "Fathers set the healthy pattern for their children - to respect themselves and others around them. This attitude continues for life. And self-respect leads to good self-esteem," she adds.

Fathers also play a role in providing a sense of security for their children. Says Vasuki, "When children know that they have someone who teaches them new things and supports them in everything, they get the confidence to explore, and the courage to experiment. Approval from the father largely influences self-confidence, thereby improving self-esteem."

So, now do you understand the impact that a father has on his child's life? Such an impact surely demands and warrants your respect and love for him, doesn't it?

The Italian novelist and philosopher, Umberto Eco once said, "I believe that what we become depends on what our fathers teach us at odd moments, when they aren't trying to teach us. We are formed by little scraps of wisdom." This Father's Day, if the 'little scraps' have you wanting to make the day special for your 'hero', it's a sign of a job well done!

It's that time of the year when the whole family is gathered around the father, gushing praises and showering attention. You'd love to do something special to mark the day. Well, here are some suggestions!
More at: www.parentcircle.com