Researchers have found that up to 70% of fathers in the US feel closer to their children now than before the Coronavirus.
You don't need us to tell you that staying at home for this length of time has been difficult. With kids out of school and the logistics of working from home, or not working at all, this has certainly been a challenging few months, to say the least. However, the one thing that the vast majority of parents can agree on is the fact that we never fell short of quality family time.
Some parents witnessed their child's first steps, which otherwise would have been taken in a creche or with a childminder. Some parents got a closer look at how their children were performing at school and found new ways to support them. Either way, we all got to spend more time with our children than we ever thought possible and while it has certainly been tough at times, it has also been something we'll never forget.
Turns out, there's research to back this up. In an article on Mother.ly, it said that:
"New research from Harvard finds nearly 70% of fathers United States feel closer to their children now than they did before the coronavirus pandemic."
The article also mentioned that:
Fathers of all races, political affiliations, education and income levels [in the US] are closer to their kids due to COVID-19, say the researchers behind the new report How the Pandemic is Strengthening Fathers' Relationships with Their Children."
According to the study, a large number of fathers report that they are:
- "Having more meaningful conversations with their children
- Getting to know their children better
- Sharing more with their children about their own lives
- Appreciating their children more
- Discovering new, shared interests with their children"
What a wonderful silver lining in the uncertain world of today. Do you think fatherhood has changed since the pandemic?