This Dad’s ‘Rules for Dating My Daughters’ Have a Powerful and Refreshing Message

Every time I see a dad go viral for his “rules for dating my daughters” post, I’m almost always grossed out by the message. It’s usually some macho dad, threatening the lives of potential suitors, and pledging to “rescue” his daughters if they get hurt. It’s a nice idea, in theory. But these types of posts play right into the damsel-in-distress, helpless little girl trope that we see so often. Jeff Welch is the latest dad to go viral for his rules, but his are a bit different, and exactly what a lot of daughters (and sons!) need to read.

Jeff’s “rules for dating my daughters” are pretty bad-ass.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYllA4wg1mk/?taken-by=j.warren.welch

No threats of gun violence, for starters. Such a nice change of pace! Jeff’s rules are simple: his daughters make THEIR OWN rules. Because his daughters are, presumably, their own people. Crazy idea, right?

“I’m not raising my little girls to be the kind of women who need their daddy to act like a creepy, possessive badass in order for them to be treated with respect.”

Jeff and his wife Natasha are raising five daughters together. FIVE. And from the sound of it, they’re raising them right. Jeff told TODAY Parents that he understand the instinct to protect your kids. However, he’s instilling in his girls the belief that they can protect themselves. Says Jeff, “The kind of posturing by fathers of daughters I was specifically responding to had nothing to do with that ‘protective instinct’ and everything to do with asserting their dominance over women and reinforcing a belief that women need men to take care of them.”

Image: Giphy

Oh Jeff. THANK YOU. Thank you for trusting in your daughters. And for trusting in women! It’s so damn refreshing to see. His post really highlights the strength he knows his girls possess.

“You will respect them, and if you don’t, I promise they won’t need my help putting you back in your place.”

Jeff is a writer and poet, and his work speaks volumes about the kind of father he obviously strives to be. His rules for dating his daughters touched a lot of people. But it’s his other poems and writings that seem to speak to the kind of dad he is.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYrsIAqA9Yh/?taken-by=j.warren.welch

So future paramours, take heed: Jeff isn’t going to save you from his daughters. He isn’t raising princesses, and you’d better tread lightly when dealing with those girls. We kind of hope a guy like this comes along, just so he can get totally wrecked by one of Welch girls. Good luck, pumpkin!

Also read:

(Image: Instagram / @j.warren.welch/)

Similar Posts