Father's and Finances

This week I have been able to learn a lot about the Father's role in a family and how that plays into their finances. I have heard a lot of debate about this one so I will try my best to explain some different aspects to think about!

My Family.

Alright so I just want to talk about my family for a little bit, as per usual. Way back in the 1990's, my mom and dad both attended college and received their bachelor's degrees. My dad got his degree in City Planning while my mom received hers in Pre-School Education. After they finished school they had jobs for a while and then soon found out they were going to have their first child, aka, me. They had a lot of discussions on what they should do to provide for their new little family. My dad felt it was very important to be the provider and my mom was inspired to stay home with me. Throughout my life growing up, I never really thought much about this situation my parents had come up with. It just felt super normal until I started going to my other friends houses. I noticed that some of their moms worked throughout the day. I observed that they really missed their parents because they were gone all the time working. Sometimes they felt neglected and expected to take care of a lot of household chores by themselves. They needed someone to talk with and ask questions, but no one was there. I'm sure the parents had their reasons for why they both worked but it was sad to see what my little friends were going through. They were lacking some extra nurturing.

A Father's Role.

I know that what I am going to say might be a bit controversial and hard for people to hear but I really believe that a father should be the ultimate provider for the family. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World, the first presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints states, "By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families." Remember how we talked about Provide, Preside and Protect a while ago? That's exactly what this is saying. There needs to be someone taking care of the family and providing for them consistently. Our loving Heavenly Father wants to teach fathers here on Earth how to govern and preside. He wants them to know how to take care and love their children in the best way possible. Now I understand that some situations are different. Mothers may need to work and that is up to the family and what they feel will be best. I just would like to put my thoughts out there for those who are curious to know or are not sure what to do.

Fun Fact!

Psychologists routinely state that about 70% of divorces result from financial concerns; attorneys have stated that it is about 80%. As you can see, it's critical for parents to consider what to do to provide for their children.

Conclusion

Obviously, it is totally up to you and your family what you decide to do. I just feel strongly that a family can benefit strongly from a father providing the financial needs for his wife and children. I would like to leave you with this quote I came across, "We do live in turbulent times. Often the future is unknown; therefore, it behooves us to prepare for uncertainties. Statistics reveal that at some time, for a variety of reasons, you may find yourself in the role of financial provider. I urge you to pursue your education and learn marketable skills so that, should such a situation arise, you are prepared to provide."

-Thomas S. Monson