Lifestyle

7 Reasons Your Dad Gives Better Advice Than Your Best Friend Ever Will

by Emily Marcus

Every girl understands the importance of having a guy’s perspective.

But ladies, it's time to listen up: Not every guy you meet needs to become the target of your latest diary entry.

In this day and age, having a bbf (boy best friend) is essentially a right of passage for teenage-hood.

Having a guy in your life who you trust completely, and hopefully aren't at the risk of falling for, is super important.

However, failing to take my own advice, I broke the golden rule. I fell for my best guy friend.

Who could I turn to now? Who could I possibly lean on when my best female friend falls short of her duties?

Then, a lightbulb went off.

What if my bbf was my dad?

Would that be so crazy? Would he even be able to relate to what I’m going through?

I decided to give it a shot.

In due time, I really did feel comfortable confiding in my dad.

More than that, I started to rely on his opinion more than I rely on anyone else’s.

Still hesitating? Here are the reasons why you shouldn’t:

1. Dads were once teenage boys, too.

I know what you're thinking: How could my dad have been a teenager?

Well, when I was 16 years old, my dad confided in me about his teenage years.

He was actually cool.

I never would have expected my lawyer father to actually have a life and friends.

But once I allowed myself to believe he was once a teenager with actual friends and an actual life, I figured he may have some good advice in him.

He really did.

Dads know what younger versions of themselves want to hear, and what they look for in a girl.

Let him lead you because your best friend may steer you wrong.

2. Dads don't want their little girls getting hurt, and they'll protect you.

Your dad remembers you when you're 5 years old, running around the backyard with a crown on your matted curls and a wand in your little hands.

Like it or not, that image your dad has of you is hot-glued into his heart forever.

You will always be his little girl, and he will always do his best to protect you from the evil in the world.

Let’s face it: There’s no arguing your best friend doesn't care about you because she does.

She wants to help you win over your crush in the best way she knows how.

That being said, her suggestion to put on more lipstick, pull down your shirt and hike up your skirt may not really be what’s in your best interest.

Your best friend might score you a casual hook up, but your dad will be the one who guides you when it's time to win your crush’s heart.

3. Your dad has likely already stalked your crush, and already knows what you're going through.

Confessions of an untypical 18 year-old: I have only been in love once.

The crazy thing is, my dad knew about it almost instantly.

Just from the way this guy and I interacted on Facebook, my dad had a feeling.

As shameless as he is, my dad chose to confront me about my crush.

I was so embarrassed, but at the same time, I was really grateful he had my back on social media.

There’s no use hiding things from tech-savvy fathers. They will always find out what’s going on with you, regardless of what you do to prevent it.

So, you may as well just spill the expresso beans, make yourself a hot cup of coffee and relax.

Your best friend may be a professional boy stalker, but there is nothing quite like a protective father on the Internet.

Eventually, you’ll learn to appreciate it (trust me on this one).

4. Dads just want you to be happy.

No girl believes this at first, but I promise you it's absolutely the truth.

Although you never forget the times your dad made you change out of an outfit, confiscated your phone or locked you in the house all weekend, he did it for one reason only: He loves you.

It's as simple as that.

Dads make sacrifices all the time, and they're okay with having you temporarily hate them in order to keep you safe.

So even though you may not always understand the reasoning, your dad cares about you more than anyone else in your life.

Your dad will trust you more if you have a little faith.

So next time, try letting your guard down and let your dad into your world.

5. If things don't go well, your dad will happily drive to your crush’s house and teach him a lesson.

This is a given.

Your dad wants to be your superhero.

No matter how tense your relationship with him is, at the end of the day, he will always be the first to defend your honor.

Boys are bound to break our hearts, but your dad surely won’t let your ex-beau get off that easily.

Your friends will help you get better, but your dad will help you get even.

6. When your dad feels like you can trust him, he’ll be more likely to trust you.

Like every other relationship in your life, the one you develop with your dad should be primarily based on trust.

If your parents trust you, your entire life will be easier.

Father-daughter relationships are super special in this way.

Confide in your dad. Let him know what's up with you.

Your best friend will tell you what you want to hear, but your dad is looking out for your future.

If you let him know what's happening in your life, he's going to help you make the best decisions to benefit you in the long run.

What do you have to lose?

7. Your dad will show you how you deserve to be treated.

So it's finally spring break, and the highly-anticipated party of the year is happening.

You see your best friend playing tonsil-hockey with a drunk frat boy.

You cringe.

You already know she’ll call you tomorrow really excited, and will recall the events completely differently.

But you know the truth.

This hookup was nothing special. This was not romantic. This was a horny teenage boy having his way with a lovestruck, hopeless romantic.

This was truly just a mixture of nasty and sad. You have to think to yourself, "Is that all there is? Is this all a boy will ever be?"

No, innocent teenager. Hell no.

Your father is going to prove that to you.

Remember all the jokes he tells her during dinner, to make your mom laugh after a stressful workday.

Watch as he offers to do the dishes, and pours your mom a glass of wine as he rests his arm around hers.

Observe, take notes and understand.

This is what you have to look forward to. This is how a woman deserves to be treated.

So girls, have a little faith.

The next time you're having a crisis, need a shoulder to cry on or just feel like having a nice heart-to-heart, your dad is waiting.