Nowadays, young fathers are more like ‘friend dads’ who play well with their kids. Unlike the previous generation of fathers, they willingly spend time with their children and are not authoritarian. They form a horizontal relationship with their kids, naturally becoming friends. In fact, today’s children, unlike previous generations, often have fewer siblings and don’t have many friends to play with outside.

Previous generation fathers lived through hardship to escape poverty. Because of this, they often lacked warm words, kind smiles, and gentle encouragement for their children. This is something the younger dads of today felt starved of while growing up. So, they try to be ‘friend dads’ to their own children, ensuring they don’t feel the same thirst. Even as I grow older, I miss having a ‘friend dad’.