In May we celebrated the always loving, caring mothers of the world, and on the third Sunday of June we have a moment to acknowledge another lifelong employment: fatherhood.
The roots of Father’s Day reach back to the beginning of the 20th century, yet it took several decades for the holiday honouring fatherhood and male parenting to catch on. Credit for its creation goes to Sonora Smart Dodd, who was raised together with her five siblings by her single dad. The first celebration was held in 1910 in Spokane, WA, but the public was resistant, considering the holiday a commercial enterprise. Indeed, Sonora found allies in trade groups specialising in menswear to promote Father’s Day. It was finally made a national holiday in the US by President Nixon in 1972. The image of fatherhood had changed a lot in a hundred years, no more Mr Bankses and Don Drapers; dads today take an equal share of parenting. Make sure you to let your father know how much you care for him; they might not show it, but it means a lot to them too.
What I remember from my childhood is the perfect safety and support I got from my parents. A more emotional kind of safety from my mother, and another, but just as important kind from my Daddy. People say that a girl’s first love is her Dad, the brave knight, the king of the castle, who runs and saves you from a falling beehive, or picks you up when you stumble over something on your first bicycle ride. He’s the hero of your life. And even though we all have to grow up, his safeguard lasts a lifetime.
So, if you have your Father close to you, find the time and put a little effort into making him smile. Be creative: buy a funny postcard and write some kind lines, get a pack of beer or a bottle of wine he likes. Buy some tools he might need, but a travel poker set, or tickets to the next game of his favourite team are also great – and affordable – ideas! Make your own photo album and write nice memories above the pictures. Help him get ready for the BBQ season, there are many pieces of equipment and tons of accessories to choose from.
But most of all, spend some quality time with your Old Man, because we all know that’s the best gift you could ever come up with. Don’t forget, it’s all about the gesture!
