Vincent Rucci

January 28, 2016

FHS 1500
U2 Essay

Q: Except for the birthing process and breastfeeding, do you think that a mother's
position as a caregiver of an infant or child is biologically different from that of a father?
Why? What examples can you provide that support your answer?

A: My Perspective and based on the text, relationships with the father and the mother are
completely different. When a child sees his/her father they would be looking for more
playing and activities so they are usually looking at their fathers as playmates technically
in the book it states Fathers enhance their childrens social and emotional development
in many ways (Lamb 2010, Pg: 148) , also they go to fathers for protection when they
are scared and frightened. When a child is to see his/her mother they are expecting love
and comfort and another thing is they usually look to the mother for food typically as
with the father i don't think they would ever look to him for food as he has never
provided it before at this point in life.

Mothers have a different level of bond with the child that the father does not have
because she has been carrying the baby for about 9 months. Think about that 9 months
this child has been in her stomach. Another thing, when the baby is born usually the

mother is the first one to hold the child and that is where imprinting is taking place
because she is the first person the baby is going to see which is kind of a safe house for
the child when it comes into the world. Because to be honest the whole birthing process
is kind of stressing to the child and they are looking for relief right away.

On the other hand, when the child starts to get to the age where they are more
understanding of things that the parents become equals. If you have ever seen a child that
is around 2 years they favor the father just as much as the mother at this point. On the
other hand, when the baby is first born, the mother is the protector, but when of age that
duty changes from the mother to the father as he becomes the protector and she becomes
just the nurturer.

This could have other outcomes as well, with different cultures, religions, etc. In the
United States, we see fathers as breadwinners and mothers as nurturers, which has been
that way for a long time. But that is starting to change a lot these days, whereas both
parents have to work. But this is just one of many factors that influence the different
types of bonds between the two parents and what roles they are going to have..

The position they hold as a mother and fathers are different and that people really do
understand that , and they are understanding that they are both really important in this
child's development that they each give something of value.

Parents can be equal in all this it just depends on the family's dynamics, they have a big

impact on how the child's going to view them and what roles they hold in their
relationship. The dynamics can all be changed as well; you could have a mother that is a
breadwinner and the father who stays home and looks after the child and that could
change the equilibrium of things a bit. Other than that they both have different roles and
they can change them if it was to come to that.

Reference:
Berger, Kathleen Stassen. "The First Two Years." Invitation to the Life Span. 2nd Ed.
New York: Worth, 2015. N. pag. Print.