Dr. James Longhurst, psychologist, Montcalm Schools has these tips for fathers who want to know their daughters better:

• Get to know the people in your daughter's life. Do you know who her three best friends are? Find out. Better still, get to know her friends in a comfortable, casual way.

If your daughter and her friends are young, be the dad who's willing to drive them to the movies or to the mall. If they're older, make it a point to greet them when you see them at the house.

• Find a way to connect. Does your daughter follow a sports team? A TV show? A musical group? Does she collect anything? Does she have an "issue" she cares about like animal rights or the environment? Join her in these interests or at least find out what they are so you can strike up a conversation and talk knowledgeably about them.

• Look for your daughter's strengths. Find out what she's good at and then — this is key — tell her. Is your daughter funny? Kind-hearted? Good in a particular sport or a certain subject at school? Show her you notice. You may feel these things in your heart but if you never express them, she's missing out and you are, too.