Traditionally,father plays the role of bread-earning and is the core of the family.He is the one with broad and strong shoulders to take on the family burdens.
Now,at modern time,fathers are still the rock of the family and the role model for the kids.But as for the bread-earning part,it's no longer the father's major only.Some mothers also take on the bread-earning part to help out the family and also to have a part of their own.
As for me,I think father is the role model in the family,setting up examples for the young.And also when I'm down and blue,father is the listener for me.He will not run to judge me whether I did right or wrong,but listen first and if I ask for advices,he will be my guider in life.
To sum it up,father has a big role in the family either in a traditional way or at modern time.