My wife Lauren and I have seven boys and two girls. I think, for most men, it’s natural to connect with our sons. They’re rough, they’re tough, and you don’t have to worry about scuffing them up. They bounce back, they like to be outside, and they like to do things we like to do. That’s great and wonderful, and we need to be examples for our boys, but we also need to be there for our girls.
Our girls need love, but it’s a different type of love. Sometimes it takes a little more for me to do the things that my daughters like to do, whether it’s going out for a meal, taking a walk, or riding bikes—things that they really enjoy. Or sometimes it’s just going shopping or letting them make something for me. I have to be on guard and I have to go that extra mile to make sure that I’m connecting with my girls as much as I’m connecting with the boys. It takes effort, but it’s worth it.
