The article on “How mothering and Fathering an adolescent can be different” that Carl Pickhardt compiled evaluates the differences in how male and female parenting for adolescents is difficult (Pickhardt). According to the author, mothers and fathers possess different departure points that further affect their roles in parenting adolescents. Mothering an adolescent is relatively more manageable as the two are usually bonded emotionally from birth.
However, it is difficult for a father to bond with a child as they are more distant. There is a need for the two parents to keep a connection with their adolescent (Pickhardt). The author claims that the difference between mothering and fathering an adolescent arises from how they approach and manage the hallmark behavior of parenting (Pickhardt). The adolescent pain that exists between fathers and mothers serves as a difference too.
The article is related to the course concept as it explains the psychological bonding between a child and the mother that serves as a powerful intimacy (Pickhardt). Similarly, the father, who appears to be a disconnected and distant parent, has to support the mother and the child psychologically bonded to their adolescent to improve parenting.
In addition, mothers often have a substantial parental focus and get psychologically attached to the child and harder to let go (Pickhardt). They are also relationally trained to be tolerant in emotional intensity with their child (Pickhardt). However, these aspects are not evident for fathers, and therefore the psychological attachment between them and the adolescent is not evident.
While reading the article, the critical ideas that I have developed entail that parenting an adolescent is challenging for the fathers due to a lack of powerful intimacy with their children (Pickhardt). The lack of a mutual sense of attachment between the two parties is critical because it poses a challenge for the fathers to connect well with their sons and daughters compared to the mothers.
Works Cited
Pickhardt, Carl. Psychology Today. How mothering and Fathering an adolescent can be different. 2010. Web.