“To be a co-responsible parent, you have to be brave and abandon the comfort of waiting for the other person to do things for you. You have to have the courage to stop just helping and go further.” – Alvaro Merino

Children's development is impacted by the active presence of both parents, as both contribute to the child's overall development thanks to the characteristics inherent in their roles; regardless of whether they are together or separated, this should not interfere with the responsibility that each one has towards their children.

UNICEF highlights the importance of a present father figure in raising children. It also cites studies that demonstrate that active fatherhood offers numerous benefits for children, leading to healthier and better development. A committed and affectionate father fosters healthy self-esteem, strengthens social skills, promotes better academic performance, and enhances his children's emotional well-being.

In some societies, it has become normalized that raising children is primarily the mother's responsibility. However, in recent years, we have seen women gain more opportunities to advance professionally; the need for them to share responsibility for raising children has become increasingly important. Unfortunately, in many contexts—such as in Guatemala—a high percentage of the responsibility still falls on the mother, even when she also has a job outside the home.

The invitation is for both parents to be actively involved in raising their children, regardless of whether they live together or not; to dare to break the paradigm that the man's role is exclusively that of provider, and the mother's role is that of educating, raising and emotionally supporting.  The shared responsibility for childcare also brings benefits to the family group, as it allows for the comprehensive development of each member.

I would like to highlight two aspects that I consider vital; and that both fathers and mothers need to assume and practice, regardless of whether they live together or separately:

1.         Commitment : When we understand that parenthood primarily involves the commitment to care for, protect, love, and help the new being who has come into our lives to develop, our perspective shifts. Let us remember that God has placed the lives of our children under our care, to love them, nurture them, and help them grow to their fullest potential, so that they may become responsible adults.

2.         Affection : the impact that affection has on the development of children has often been minimized, believing that children will be fine as long as they have food, a home, clothes, and education.

However, if we analyze what Maslow's pyramid proposes about the hierarchy of human needs, made up of 5 levels, which must be fulfilled for the human being to grow, develop and self-actualize; we see that within these needs are both physiological and affective and social needs.

When both parents are affectionate, a deep connection is formed that allows children to feel truly close to them. Trust develops, and parents become not only their children's primary role models but also that safe haven they will always choose to turn to first when facing difficulties, certain that they will find in their parents the loving and affectionate support they need to navigate the challenging moments that are part of life's journey.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize the importance of shared and active fatherhood in fostering the healthy development of individuals—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Let us remember that by raising a loved, valued, and respected human being, we are giving the world someone who will love, value, and respect the lives of others, thus contributing to society and creating a better world.

By Erika Barrientos