The words ‘Father’ and ‘Dad’ are used quite synonymously. But the implications of these two words are very different. If you’ve had a happy childhood where you were loved, cherished and cared for, you might not think twice about the differences between the two connotations. But others know better. Becoming a father is a pretty straightforward process. Having a child is easy when compared to raising them. That’s where the journey of a dad begins.
So here are the significant differences which tell whether you are a father or a dad:
1. Being a Father is a Biological process; being a Dad involves emotions
When we say becoming a father is easy, we mean that any man capable of reproduction can do it without significant effort on their part. The birth of a child who has the same genes as you is enough to warrant you that title. But being a Dad means taking responsibility for your child, putting their welfare, mental, physical or emotional, as your top priority.
2. A dad is someone who is always there for his kids
We all know of numerous cases of single moms raising their children after the father has abandoned the family. A Dad would never do that. Being a Dad means being there for your child, no matter what. Some people become a dad to their step-children or foster children. Yet again, biology has nothing to do with being a dad.
3. Fathers expect their kids to understand them; Dads make them understand
Even if they don’t abandon them, a father doesn’t need to be equipped to become a dad. Not many have the understanding and patience to raise kids in a way that allows for holistic development. The adult world is very confusing for a child. It takes a dad to make sure they understand it and not simply a father who cannot be bothered to think about the limitations of a child’s understanding of the world.
4. A Dad tries to be an idol for his children, but a Father may not bother
This is another prevalent behavior on the part of Fathers all over the world. They think their only responsibility towards their children is the financial one. Having brought food to the table, they feel they can do anything and everything with the slightest regard for what the child is learning from themselves. Dads know that being responsible for someone also means that they have to take care and act responsibly and ideally because children are so impressionable.
5. A Father judges the child’s behavior; a Dad tries to understand it
As mentioned before, Fathers don’t take much responsibility for their children’s upbringing. If they see them behaving in a way that is not acceptable, they reprimand them and think their part is done. A Dad tries to understand why their child was led to behave in a certain way. They are not too quick with harsh words and actions because they know the impact of their efforts on the psyche of children.
6. A Father can always reject a child; a Dad will never
Be it upon birth or later in life, when they don’t turn up according to his expectations, a father might reject his child on any pretext. A Dad will never do that even if his child makes one mistake after another. A Dad will never abandon a child, no matter how lost they might get. He will always be there for them, in good or bad times.
Also Read: 6 Benefits Of Being An Emotionless Person
