Let's Talk: Conversation Starters for Dads and Daughters

by Michelle PhD Watson Canfield, Meg Meeker (Foreword by)

Overview

Many great father-daughter books highlight the benefits of being an engaged father, cite statistics about the impact fathers have on a daughter's life, and give practical advice about how to foster such relationships. But once the stage has been set, many dads don't know what to say or how to approach conversations with their daughters.

Using her decades of experience in counseling young women and coaching fathers, Michelle Watson has created a step-by-step template for having conversations that build a stronger bond through laughter, vulnerability, honesty, and self-disclosure. Let's Talk is filled with dozens of scripted questions that walk fathers through the levels of creating a heart-to-heart connection with their daughters by communicating the right way. Through this easy-to-read guide, dads will learn how to listen and build trust as they move from get-to-know-you chats to deep discussions that dive into their daughters' struggles, hurts, and hopes.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764235689
Publisher:	Bethany House Publishers
Publication date:	08/04/2020
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	735,031
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Michelle Watson Canfield, PhD, is a licensed professional counselor, speaker, author, and radio host of The Dad Whisperer living in Portland, Oregon. As founder of The Abba Project, a nine-month process group forum for dads with daughters from 13 to 30, Dr. Michelle is passionate about equipping and inspiring fathers to dial in to their daughters' hearts intentionally and consistently. Learn more at www.drmichellewatson.com.

Table of Contents

Foreword 9

Why This Book? 11

Introduction 17

Part 1 Laying the Groundwork: Preparing Yourself to Pursue Your Daughter's Heart 21

1 You Have What It Takes 23

2 What You Gain by Engaging Your Daughter's Heart 27

3 What Dads and Daughters Say about Using Scripts to Guide Their Conversations 33

4 Why Listening to Your Daughter Matters 37

5 How to Invite Your Daughter to Participate in This Process 41

6 Self-Evaluation with the Dialed-In-Dad Checklist 45

7 Road Map for Using This Book 49

Part 2 Action Plans: Questions and Activities for Connecting with Your Daughter's Heart 53

8 Lead Her to LAUGH 55

Dad-Daughter Date

#1 Fun, Lighthearted Questions about the Present

#2 Fun, Lighthearted Questions about the Past

#3 Fun, Lighthearted Questions about the Future

#4 Questions about Firsts

#5 Ten Outrageous Things I Wish I Had the Nerve to Do

#6 Looking at Myself through a Different Lens

#7 Defining Myself

#8 Fun Questions about Movies (or Television Shows or Books)

#9 The ABCs about Your Daughter

#10 The ABCs of God

#11 Expressing Yourself, Expressing Your Style

#12 The Best Phone Photo of the Day Game

#13 The 24-Hour No-Phone Challenge

9 Lead Her to LOVE 77

Dad-Daughter Date

#14 Questions on Personality Profiles Inventory

#15 Questions on Love Languages

#16 Questions on Self-Esteem

#17 Questions on Body Image

#18 Questions on Her Clothing Choices

#19 Questions on Longing for Romance and Royalty

#20 Questions on Being Single

#21 Ten Things I Want to Do in My Life

#22 Questions on Closing the Dream Gap

#23 Questions on Becoming a World Changer

#24 Questions on a Volunteering Project: Taking It to the Streets Together

10 Lead Her to LOOK 111

Dad-Daughter Date

#25 Questions to Help Her Find Her Voice

#26 Questions on Standing Up, Standing Strong, and Standing Alone

#27 Questions on False Self and True Self

#28 Questions on Facing and Conquering Her Fears

#29 Questions on Anxiety

#30 Questions on Depression

#31 Questions on Substance Use (Drugs and Alcohol)

#32 Questions on Spirituality

#33 Questions on Boundaries with Smartphone Use

#34 Questions on Guys and Dating

#35 Questions on Sex

#36 Questions on Sexting

#37 Questions on Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault

#38 Questions on Bullying and Cyberbullying

#39 Questions on Pornography

#40 Questions on Same-Sex Attraction

#41 Questions on Eating Disorders and/or Disordered Eating

#42 Questions on Cutting (Self-Injurious Behavior)

#43 Questions on Suicide and Suicidal Thoughts

11 Lead Her to Lament 177

Dad-Daughter Date

#44 Questions on Making Amends for Hurtful Words You've Spoken

#45 Questions on Her Father Wounds-from You

#46 Questions on Her Father Voids-from You

#47 Questions on Distracted Dads

#48 Questions If You or Her Mom Had an Affair

#49 Questions about Her Parents' Divorce

#50 Questions on Having You as Her Stepdad

#51 Questions for Estranged Daughters Who Are Open to Talking

#52 Questions on Sibling Rivalry

#53 Questions on Being Adopted

#54 Questions about the Death of a Loved One

Part 3 Flipping the Script: Questions for Daughters to Ask Their Dads 209

12 Lead Her to LISTEN 211

Dad-Daughter Date

#55 Questions about Your Life as a Kid

#56 Questions about Your Parents, Childhood, and Family Life

#57 Questions about How Your Relationship with Your Dad Impacted You

#58 Questions about Your History with Drugs, Alcohol, and Addictions

#59 Questions about Your Romantic History

#60 Questions about How You Relate to God From Dr. Michelle to You, Dad 223

Appendix A Preparing for Reconciliation with Your Estranged Daughter 225

Appendix B Your Self-Evaluation Report Card 229

Notes 233