1. Fatherhood Institute. "Outcome of Father Involvement." Fatherhood Institute. 18 Apr. 2005. Fatherhood Institute. 15 Mar. 2009. <http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/index.php?id=6&cID=167>.

2. Gartrell, Nanette, M.D. "Notional Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study." National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study, lesbian mothers, lesbian families, lesbian family study. 2008. National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study. 15 Mar. 2009. <http://www.nllfs.org/>.

3. Hawkins, Alan J., Kay P. Bradford, Rob Palkovitz, Shawn L. Christiansen, Randal D. Day, and Vaughn R.A. Call. "The Inventory of Father Involvement: a pilot study of a new measure of father involvement." The Journal of Men's Studies 10.2 (Wntr 2002): 183(14). Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Collection. Gale. Mountain View Public Library. 15 Mar. 2009. <http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=SPJ.SP03>

4. Hoffman, John. "More Evidence that Father Involvement is Good For Kids." Fatherhood Involvement Research Alliance. 2009. Fatherhood Involvement Research Alliance. 15 Mar. 2009. <http://www.fira.ca/article.php?id=126>.

5. Mackey, Wade C. "Father presence: an enhancement of a child's well-being." The Journal of Men's Studies 6.n2 (Wntr 1998): 227(17). Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Collection. Gale. Mountain View Public Library. 15 Mar. 2009. <http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=SPJ.SP03>.

6. Nelson, Clayton. Personal Interview. 16 February, 2009.

7. Nelson, Claire. Personal Interview. 16 February, 2009.

8. Nelson, Lisa. Personal Interview. 16 February, 2009.

9. People, Katie, and Kristin A. Smith. "Study proves lesbian parents are as good or better. (IN THE NEWS)(Brief article)." Curve 18.1 (Jan-Feb 2008): 29(1). Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Collection. Gale. Mountain View Public Library. 1 Mar. 2009. <http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=SPJ.SP03>.

10. Siegenthaler, Amanda L., and Jerry J. Bigner. "The Value of Children to Lesbian and Non-Lesbian Mothers." Journal of Homosexuality 39.2 (May 2000): 73(19). Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Issues Collection. Gale. Mountain View Public Library. 28 Feb. 2009. <http://find.galegroup.com/itx/start.do?prodId=SPJ.SP03>.

11. Vaughn, Vicki. Personal Interview. 16 February, 2009.

Paper (Rough Draft)

Are Dads Important?

Introduction
Clayton and Claire Nelson, eight year old twins, are awakened on Monday morning for school by their parents, just like every other kid in America.
Their parents yell down the hall, “It’s time to get ready for school!”
Both kids get out of bed and go to the kitchen to have breakfast. “What would you like this morning, cereal or Eggo waffles?” their parents ask. “Oh, and don’t forget to take your vitamins.”
No time to waste at 7:20 am, school starts at eight. Clayton goes to get dressed, while Claire brushes her teeth. Now that Clayton is dressed, it’s his turn to brush his teeth. While they get ready, their parents help get their school stuff together. Knowing Claire might forget her homework, her parents put it in her backpack so she doesn’t lose it.
“Remember to brush for three minutes,” Clayton hears his parent say from the kitchen.
“I know, I know,” he mumbles to himself.
Once they are ready, they get their backpacks together. With all their homework in the correct folders and in their bags, it’s time to go. Finally, their parents get them out the door and into the car. The sand colored mini van drives up the road and towards the school.
“Alright, have a great morning you guys. We will be here this afternoon to help out in your classrooms, okay?” As the kids bolt out of the van, their parents say to one another, “Typical!”
After school gets out, Clayton and Claire go home and have an after school snack and start their homework, just like most kids their age. Then once homework is finished, they can go play outside with their friends from next door.
“Dinner time!” Clayton and Claire hear their parents shout outside. The kids rush in and sit down at the table and have a nice family meal together. They talk about their day, what they learned in school, and how their friends are doing. Picture dinner time, just like any other family.
Before they know it, it’s time for bed. Soon, the routine will start over again, like every day in most American families. But, there is a slight difference to this family. The difference is that Clayton and Claire don’t call their parents, mommy and daddy. They call them Momma Vicki and Momma Lisa.
They have two moms. Is that really a problem? Researchers say that a child needs a mother and a father to live a full and healthy life. But is that really true? Do you really need a dad to turn out to be a good person? Are dads that important in our lives?
Father Involvement
The National Longitudinal Lesbian Family Study (NLLFS) is the longest-running and largest prospective investigation of USA lesbian moms and their children. This Lesbian Family Study has been following lesbian mothers and their children since the 1980s. The study is dedicated to examining the social, psychological, and emotional development of the children of lesbian parents. In a summary of the study’s findings, the researchers stated, “No significant differences were found in the psychological adjustment of children in the present study and their age-matched peers” (Gartrell).
In my interviews with a lesbian couple, I observed no significant difference in their family compared to a heterosexual couple’s family. While I was there for interviews, I had the chance to interact and play with the kids. I could see no difference between these children and children raised by a mother and a father. When I asked the kids if they thought there were any different than the kids with a mom and a dad, they simply responded, “Nope” (Nelson twins). In my interview with Vicki, one of the moms, I asked what the hardest part was about raising kids as a lesbian couple. She responded, “Raising kids is just tough. It doesn’t matter if you are gay or straight. Raising kids is a full time job. And being gay [doesn’t] even come into question” (Vaughn).
So, do we really need fathers? Is their involvement in our lives critical to the outcome of our future? According to The Journal of Men’s Studies, “fathers enhance a child's well-being and fatherless children are harmed by that lack” (Mackey). Some researchers believe that the psychological development of a child needs to be nurtured by both genders. Without a father, a son or a daughter, will not fully gain from a male role model.
Another study, done by the Fatherhood Institute, shows that for a child to do better academically and behaviorally the child should have a father involved. “Reported positive effects of father involvement on a range of specific outcomes include: enhanced cognitive development during infancy, better than average social functioning in childhood, higher educational attainment...” (Fatherhood Institute). Through father support in academics and social interactions, a child’s development and confidence is built. Helping out with little league, boys scouts, or girl scouts can add to the growth of the child’s healthy mind and sense of self. These studies support the idea that If a father works with the child on homework and school projects, it will help foster a positive future for the child.
But what is the definition of father involvement? The Fatherhood Institute defines a father as person who reads to his kids, goes out with his kids, takes part in the kids’ education, and is equal to a mother. Well if you need an equivalent to a mother, can’t that be another woman? Does it have to be a man? The equivalent to Momma Vicki is Momma Lisa. It doesn’t matter to their kids, Clayton and Claire, that their mother’s equivalent is another female. Their development is just the same as a child with a mother and a father, both mothers help with the development of their children. Momma Vicki coaches Claire’s softball team. Momma Lisa helps out with Clayton’s boy scouts. In addition, both moms help out in the kids’ classroom as volunteers. When it’s time for homework, Vicki and Lisa are the to help and support the kids academically.
Personal Findings
For more than three weeks, I observed Vicki and Lisa’s family. I conducted my own personal study to see what differences there are between their family, a family with two moms, and a family with a mom and a dad. During my first visit to their house, I observed a typical home environment. The kids were running around the front yard playing with their friends from next door. Vicki was making Mac ’n’ Cheese for lunch with Lisa assisting. This family scene was just like an ordinary family with kids. I asked Lisa what a normal day was like for them, “Crazy. Very busy...And as you can see chaos” (Nelson). They seemed to me like any other parents, running around keeping up with the kids.
As the weeks went on, I began to see Vicki and Lisa as just parents, not a lesbian couple raising kids. From what I observed, there was no difference to the kids that they had two moms. When I asked Claire if she thought there was any difference between having two moms and having a mom and a dad, she simply said, “Nope” (Claire Nelson). Vicki and Lisa do the same things that any heterosexual couple would do in raising kids. Their life revolves around the kids; taking them to school, helping with homework, coaching softball, and taking them to piano lessons. Lisa comments about raising kids as a lesbian couple, “I think it is just as hard whether you are gay or straight. It’s giving up your own personal time and having things, you know, free time taken away from you. And not being able to talk to your spouse when you want to or finish a sentence. I don’t think it is anything different” (Lisa Nelson).
When I interviewed Clayton, their son, I was interested in figuring out if he would have wanted a father instead of one of his mothers. “I like having two moms...It’s just enjoyable for me because I always have a mom with me” (Clayton Nelson). Studies done by the Journal of Men’s Studies and the Fatherhood Involvement Research Alliance say that a child must have a father to grow a healthy mind and sense of self. But from what I saw in the twins, they are developing into fine young children without the presence of a father. “I always want to have two moms” (Claire Nelson).
Though Vicki and Lisa grew up in disciplinary households, they have a contrasting style of parenting. “One of the things we really try to do is lift up with words not put down. We don’t spank. We don’t do punishing things” (Vicki Vaughn). Vicki and Lisa were raised in a strict, traditional manner. Throughout the years, parenting styles have really evolved. These moms use parenting techniques that are gentler and more open-minded. While I was there, I could see how beneficial their parenting style was for their children. As a method of teaching the kids what’s right and wrong, they developed “The Word of the Week.” One week I was there, the word was “boundaries.” On the specific day that I was there, Claire had crossed a boundary. She had hit Clayton because he was teasing her. I saw Lisa take both Clayton and Claire aside to sort out the problem. Lisa very calmly asked Claire to recall the Word of the Week. The kids sat there and diplomatically worked out their boundary problem.
Another aspect of parenting is participating in the child’s education. The Fatherhood Institute argues that for a child to do better in school, the child must have a father who is engaged in the child’s life and learning. From briefly looking through the kids school work, I could see that they were doing very well. Neither of them have any trouble learning or completing their work. Contrary to the studies I found online, I saw no gap in their educational achievement. The fact that both Vicki and Lisa assist with homework and volunteering in the children’s classroom, shows how dedicated they are to their education. The educational outcome of the children does not depend on if they have a father.
“The other thing that’s different from my childhood that their [Clayton and Claire] getting in their childhood, is the ability to see what it is they like and enjoy. And getting the opportunity to explore their gifts, like music and physical activities, like Aikido or skateboarding” (Lisa Nelson). Just like my mom and dad encourage me to do the things I love, like music and art, Vicki and Lisa let the kids explore their interests. Into the van we all jumped, it was time for skateboard lessons. Once at the skate park, the kids couldn’t wait to get started skating. They found some of their friends and started goofing off. Seeing the kids with their friends reminded me of when I was eight years old. I used to love playing around with my friends. Carefree, energetic, and playful, just like I was when I was eight. The fact that they have two mom’s doesn’t effect the way they grow up. They are experiencing and getting support in the same ways I do with a mother and father. “It’s just being a typical soccer mom. Taking them to soccer practice, softball practice, piano lessons, after school activities, play dates with friends” (Vicki Vaughn).
Conclusion
After reading through all the research and observing a lesbian couple with children, I determined that it makes no difference whether a child has a father or not. I have found no significant evidence that proves fathers have a direct impact on a child’s life. Clayton and Claire live normal and healthy lives, even without a father. As long as a child has loving and supporting parents, no matter what gender, they can have healthy childhood. It makes no difference in a child’s education whether they have a father. Clayton and Claire’s education is fostered by loving parents, as is mine. Time will tell, as the twins mature, whether or not they will ever need a father.