The Daughter Dilemma

Most of us, at some point in our lives, place our parents on a pedestal. As a daughter, I most certainly did that with my dad. He was my hero - larger than life, my protector, my guide, the one person who never made me feel like I was anything less than extraordinary. And whether we realize it or not, as we grow into adulthood, we find ourselves searching for pieces of our dads in the men we allow into our lives.

There is an unspoken expectation, a silent standard set by the way our dads loved us:

• The unwavering protection they gave us, making us feel safe no matter what.

• The way we always held a place of pride in their lives, nothing and no one ever seemed to come before us.

• The way they believed in us, even when we doubted ourselves, standing by our side through every failure and success.

• The knowledge that, in their eyes, we were never too much, never too difficult, and always enough.

• And, most importantly, the unshakeable faith that they would never hurt us - physically, emotionally, or otherwise.

For strong women, this creates an undeniable challenge when it comes to romantic relationships. Because when you’ve been loved so deeply, so unconditionally, and with such consistency, the bar is set impossibly high. It’s not that we compare every man to our dad, it’s that we simply refuse to settle for less than the kind of love we know exists.

So, to the men who step into our lives: understand that this isn’t about being spoiled, demanding, or difficult. It’s about the fact that we’ve already known what it feels like to be cherished. We’ve already experienced what it’s like to be seen, heard, and protected. And if you’re not prepared to show up with the same level of strength, respect, and unwavering love, then don’t expect a place in our world.

The truth is, daughters of great dads don’t need saving. We don’t need fixing. And we certainly don’t need someone to complete us. But we do need someone who measures up. Because we’ve been loved right from the very beginning, and that’s the only kind of love we will ever accept.

Remembering dad 💜 #dad #family #relationship