Belewenis van vaderskap van tweelinge tydens die middelkinderjare : ‘n Gestalt perspektief

Abstract

The earlier conceptualisation of the roles of fathers that only focused on the breadwinner, has been replaced by a number of unique roles that are fulfilled by the father. The different aspects of fatherhood have a reciprocal influence on each other and can influence the father’s experience. The goal of this qualitative study was to explore the father’s experience of twins in their middle childhood. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight fathers. From this study it became clear that fatherhood of twins can generally be seen as a positive experience, but fathers of twins face extra challenges that lack in the case of single children. The researcher came to the conclusion that by being aware of the changes in each developmental stage, the father can prepare himself better for fatherhood and handle situations that he experiences at a particular moment. Various suggestions that can be useful for parental guidance and preparing fathers of twins for fatherhood were made.

Die vroeër konseptualisering van vaders se rolle wat net op die broodwinner gefokus het, is in die moderne familie vervang deur ‘n aantal unieke rolle wat die vader vervul. Die verskillende aspekte van vaderskap het ‘n wedersydse invloed op mekaar en kan elke vader se belewenis beïnvloed. Die doel van die kwalitatiewe studie was om die vader se belewenis van tweelinge in hul middelkinderjare te verken. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is met agt vaders gevoer. Uit die studie het dit duidelik geword dat vaderskap van tweelinge oor die algemeen beskou kan word as ‘n positiewe ervaring, maar dat die vaders ekstra uitdagings in die gesig staar wat met enkelkinders ontbreek. Die navorser het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat deur bewus te wees van veranderinge in elke ontwikkelingsfase van die tweeling, die vader homself beter kan voorberei op vaderskap, asook situasies wat hy huidiglik ervaar. Verskeie aanbevelings wat van waarde kan wees tydens ouervoorbereiding en ouerleiding aan vaders van tweelinge, is deur die navorser gemaak.