“Confessions of Childhood: 72 Women Reveal the Most Heartbreaking Lessons From Their Fathers’ Mistakes”
Fatherhood is a tricky game, isn’t it? One minute, you’re a superhero in your daughter’s eyes—an invincible figure ready to save the day. The next, you’re making baffling decisions that belittle her, such as completely checking out of her life because “she’s got it all figured out.” We’ve all seen those cringe-worthy dad moments that could inspire a sitcom. How many times have you heard some poor guy say he has “nothing in common” with his daughter because she doesn’t share his obsession with power tools or fishing? Seriously, what happened to the joy of bonding over a board game or her favorite movie?
In a recent Reddit discussion, a whopping 72 women opened up about their fathers’ biggest mistakes in raising them. These shared experiences reveal some painfully humorous and deeply concerning perspectives on what it means to be a father. From body shaming to neglect, these anecdotes not only give us a good chuckle, but they also serve as a stark reminder of the impacts of paternal behaviors on daughters’ self-esteem and relationships in adulthood. So grab your favorite beverage and settle in—as we dive into the eye-opening lessons learned from the hilarious, heartbreaking blunders of fatherhood that we all wish could be rewritten.
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Not having anything to do with their daughters because the dad “doesn’t have anything in common with a girl”. This goes double if a son shows up and the dad is really involved in the son’s life.
Not listening and acting when your child says “no.” I’m not talking about issues of health and safely but more general “I don’t want to be tickled right now” or “please don’t call me that nickname you think is cute but I’ve told you I dislike.”
She HAS TO be able to trust that the first important man in her life will listen when she expresses what she will and won’t consent to.
Literally knowing nothing about their daughters lives. Those ‘funny’ videos where they ask fathers basic questions – like what their daughters birthday, or eye color, or school is, and the dads have no idea are not at all funny. I love my dad but he can’t tell you anything about me – even the name of the place I’ve worked for over 6 years.
Expecting different things from their daughters than their sons, especially when it comes to household chores. Like, Brother mows the lawn once a week but Sister has to do all the dishes, sweep the floors, and fold the laundry every day.
The way they talk about women. Making assumptions about them easy, promiscuous, or a s**t based on how they dress. Making sleazy or fatphobic remarks on their body proportions. They make it like women exist for their viewing pleasure.
The one mistake my dad made was not really being present. A lot of the memories I have of him are him watching tv or being on the computer and not having time to play with me, he always said he’s too tired or he’ll come play later but then he never did.
so since we never really bonded when I was little we weren’t all that close as I grew older either.
Not teaching us the same things they teach their sons ie) car maintenance, building s**t, power tools etc.
Thinking that your daughter’s emotional needs are being met by her mother. Even if mom and daughter are very close and talk often, it is still important to ask your daughter about her day, her relationships, her triumphs and struggles. My mom is my best friend, but our relationship was more volatile than my relationship with my dad and I was scared of disappointing her. My dad was often neutral territory and got to hear all the gossip before mom did. My dad was awesome!
Body shaming/ fat shaming
I’m a full grown adult and can name every single time he called me fat, told my friends I needed a diet, ate snacks in front of my and told me I couldn’t have any cause I didn’t need it. I quit theater in school cause ‘how many fat actresses do you see’. No good man will ever want me. Ect.. ect…
Don’t do that dads.
The whole “tell your bfs I’ve got a shot gun” mentality.
That’s the quickest way to teach them to hide bfs from you. A) it’s unnerving and B) it means you don’t trust their choices.
Much better to have a home where the boys are expected to come in and meet you, you get a feeling about them, then have a rational discussion with your daughters later on. Not a raging ‘get rid of him’ kind of chat. Like a chat where you say I didn’t like how he said this to you, does he respect you, etc. She’ll be more likely to listen to logic, and more likely to come to you if she’s worried or unsure about things.
