Regardless of whether you are about to join fatherhood, just welcomed your little one into the world or have been a father for a number of years now, the question of fatherhood is an important one not only for the individual but for our society as a whole. 

In times when traditional family structures are changing and parenthood is no longer restricted to a man and a woman per se, the role of the father seems to be at jeopardy.

Like father like son
Think about the relationship you had with your father. If you are among the lucky bunch out there, your father was present and supportive, strict but fair, encouraging and authoritative, consistent and predictable, a role model with his own human flaws that were minor enough not to have a negative impact on you psychologically. 

When you become a dad yourself, it is probably fair to say that you will father similarly, while also finding your own way in conjunction with your partner. It is easier to be a good father when you had one! 

When dad is missing

Probably the most painful experience for a woman and a mother is to separate from the love of her life and the father of her children. Regardless of the reason for the separation, it is painful enough to no longer be a couple, let alone be a single parent with a broken heart. On top of your own pain, now you have children to consider and it may be quite daunting to broach the subject with them. Maybe they are not old enough to ask questions just yet or they have already asked you but you don't know how to answer them...

Don't worry, you are not alone! By the end of this post, I hope that you will feel supported, encouraged and confident in your ability to address the issue with your kids in an informed and psychologically-minded way. 

Tip #1. Remember, children are very sensitive.
Children are very sensitive to their parents' emotional state and will detect that something is wrong, especially if one day dad was there and the next day, he isn't. Usually, they don't know how to verbalize what they may be feeling but you may notice it through their behavior - maybe they appear sad, refuse to eat, struggle to sleep or seem to be acting angry and throw more tantrums than usual. Any unusual or different behavior may be an indication and/or a communication to you that they feel something is not quite right with their mommy or daddy. 

Tip #2. Tell the truth about the separation even if it hurts.