Two things only a father can do to empower his daughter
Countless books and studies have been published on the father-daughter relationship. And as a daughter, wife and mother myself, I have witnessed the powerful force between a father and his daughters. I’m blessed to have a husband and two daughters who seek to build a strong father-daughter relationship. I’d like to share two things only a father can do to empower his daughter(s) to make their relationship strong.
Stick around to the end, you can watch my YouTube video featuring my husband teaching our daughter a fun self-defense skill!
Here’s the podcast I produced last year, but it’s still valuable today. Enjoy. Be sure to scroll down to subscribe and see the offer for free stuff!
Studies show that a good father-daughter relationship leads to increased confidence, better body image, higher intelligence and overall wellness in a girl’s life. Don’t get me wrong, a girl needs her momma, but for totally different reasons. And yes, I know, a mother and daughter can engage in these two activities (highly recommend it).
However, when a father embarks on an intentional journey to do these two simple things, something magical happens. There is a unique and mysterious bond every girl desires to have with her father. And if this bond is missing or broken, the girl will have brokenness in her heart.
Girls seek approval and attention first and foremost from their dad. Studies show that a girl’s sense of self-worth and confidence is tied directly to her relationship with her father. What he thinks about her and how he expresses his affection for her is a central source of her perceived value. It also affects her femininity and teaches her how to relate to boys and men. Every girl needs a father and/or father figure for future healthy relationships with boys and men in her life.
Of course we live in a broken world. And fathers and daughters mess up. Sometimes there are little flaws, but many times big, ugly flaws leave scars in relationships. However, it’s never too late to rebuild and restore the father-daughter relationship. These two things are the foundation of the father-daughter relationship. (Be sure to read to the end of this blog to read “What does a good, good father look like?”)
Those two things.
There are two things only a father can do to empower his daughter. These two things will work at any age. Be sure to enter into these activities with an open heart and with the intention to truly connect. I think the father and the daughter will truly be empowered.
Conversation.
Talk to your daughter. Often. Girls tend to connect emotionally through spoken words. I know my daughters love “words of affirmation” from their dad. They love to hear him compliment them, praise them and encourage them. Don’t make this complicated. Talk at home, in the car, on the phone. Send silly texts and emails. Write simple notes and place cards in her backpack or on her pillow. Be intentional about your conversations. As girls get older and schedules get busy, schedule time together to talk. Go to breakfast, lunch and “date nights” together. Talking includes listening. At first, it might be simple or one-ended. But over time, the dialogue will grow as trust deepens. Be willing to be vulnerable. Put down the cell phones. Listen and talk. Look her in eyes and talk to her.
Touch.
When your daughter is little, physical contact is easy. Hugging and kissing that sweet baby girl usually comes naturally. But as daughters mature, dads tend to draw back mostly because their daughters are going through those awkward puberty years. But don’t drawback. Daughters still need to be hugged. Daughters need to see and feel how a gentleman treats a young lady. Studies show that girls directly link a father’s physical attention to emotional connection. When a father stops hugging his daughter, she feels abandoned and may perceive she’s done something wrong. Physical connection should not be lost as a girl matures. It might change, but she still needs her father’s loving physical touch.
Online self-defense to empower your daughter!
Teach her the Brazilian jiu-jitsu style “arm bar.” I have simple step-by-step videos for you.
Try my online self-defense videos to make physical touch intentional and empowering with your daughter. It takes three easy steps to begin online self-defense training.
- Choose an online program perfect for you and your daughter.
- Enroll and
- Begin training.
It’s that easy. Welcome to The Great Flip, online self-defense inspired by the martial art Brazilian jiu-jitsu, safety and faith-filled empowerment.
Choose your video training. Enroll now.
Don’t get me wrong, the father-daughter dance is sweet. But from my experience, when the precious father-daughter dance moment comes to an end, the dads head for the nearest corner while the girls head for the dance floor.
A father-daughter self-defense event might be a fun way to physically connect with your daughter and give her life skills to last a lifetime! Simply watch the videos and practice empowering techniques together.
The Great Flip is a great activity a father can do to empower his daughter.
Try the wrist escape with your daughter.
Want to try a technique now? Click on the picture to the right and try the wrist escape! Every video at The Great Flip is less than three minutes. Short. simple. empowering for girls ages six and up.
Let’s get started.
See you on the mat! – Coach Jody
What does a good, good father look like?
You will not find perfection in your earthly father or any earthly father figure. And if you no longer have your earthly father or a strong male role model, there is a Heavenly Father who wants to extend these same two activities to you. He offers his spoken word through the Bible. He offers his physical touch through baptism and communion. The Heavenly Father reveals himself through his perfect son, Jesus. He offers his unending love, compassion and forgiveness which leads to healing, hope and love. He loves you. This is a free gift … for you.
- “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
- “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9
To learn more, find a Christian church in your community that teaches “faith alone. grace alone. the word alone.”
The most important gift you can give your daughter is the gift of Jesus Christ.
Someone is going into the lake. Guess who? Watch this video of my hubby teaching my daughter a few self-defense skills: Click here.
About Coach Jody
Coach Jody is a certified Brazilian jiu-jitsu instructor and mother of two daughters. Her daughters inspired her to develop an online self-defense experience to gain a basic understanding of self-defense skills, prepare for the martial arts environment and improve overall health and wellness.
The Great Flip is a national program alliance for American Heritage Girls. These girls value fun father-daughter activities! This is a great activity a father can do to empower his daughter. Coach Jody has spent twenty years inspiring young women to be tomorrow’s leaders.
(I recommend “Bringing Up Girls,” by James Dobson, whose insight helped me write this blog)
