I am not a parent, but this is something I would like to have others perspective on.What is a healthy dad and daughter relationship supposed to look like? Within families, I usually see either the dad and daughter have a open relationship, and the daughter feels comfortable talking to her dad about almost anything, or the dad is stoic and the daughter does not feel comfortable talking to him about anything.
I adore my dad and am grateful he built a solid foundation for my life, equipping me with a strong and comprehensive education, values and ethics; cultivating my talents and passions; and teaching by example about Christ's precepts and how to structure your life according to them. He believes in me, and has gotten me to believe in myself. I'm eternally grateful for the example he set with how he treats and values women in my family, how my mom is in every way an equal partner, not someone subservient. He consistently treats others generously, extending kindness, giving validation of worth, helping so many in a myriad of meaningful and even revolutionary ways (he works in biotech). He's funny and fun to be with in adventures big and small, and in everyday life. I admire his talent, intelligence, athleticism and gusto for adventure, and most importantly his character. I think a healthy relationship between a teen or young adult daughter and father is one where you mutually trust and respect one another while recognizing your inherent differences. I'm confident that I could talk to my dad about anything, and he would give me his attention, honestly listen, and offer advice that I'm genuinely at liberty to take; they're not edicts. Beyond our early childhood years, he's never prioritized obedience, instead teaching us how to make prudent choices and be wholesomely self-disciplined.
He's a physician, and I've had significant medical problems since I was an infant, so that has altered the dynamics of some conversations and daily interactions, and caused him to be far more overly protective towards me than with my brothers at the same ages (and our gender differences have never been the reason). I'm a college student but am living at home instead of on campus because I need multiple shots a day, and they're difficult to self-administer. Most frustrations and locking of horns between us are due to my health issues.
When I joined this forum in high school I was exposed to Christian beliefs and attitudes that astonished, dismayed and hurt me. I'd never before encountered fundamentalism from adults (just one girl who'd caused ruckus and tears with other kids), and it baffled and disheartened me, and was more corrosive to my faith than anything else in my life. I went to my dad seeking definitive answers on certain topics of controversy, but appreciate so much that instead of telling me what to believe, or how to believe, he encouraged me to pursue knowledge and grow in my own understandings of scripture, of the nature of God, and my relationship with Christ. He gave me much guidance along the way, but pushed me to retain my own curiosity and independence of mind. That helped nourish my faith.