The father is both head of his wife and the one primarily responsible for directing the children.
فَٱلْأَبُ هُوَ رَأْسُ زَوْجَتِهِ وَٱلْمَسْؤُولُ فِي ٱلْمَقَامِ ٱلْأَوَّلِ عَنْ إِرْشَادِ ٱلْأَوْلَادِ .‏