I had a change of heart of what I wanted to post today opting to deviate from our usual stress management, self-care, wellness, and self-nurturing topics. (Notice the hashtags changed too...lol). Today is all about fathers.
That third Sunday in June has always been one that caused internal conflict for me. Even when I was a little girl, it was one of those holidays that I sort of zoned out for. Now don't worry this article will not turn into one of those bitter, maneater articles. Now that I am older and I'd like to think a little wiser, I am able to genuinely salute the dads out there who are active in the lives of their children. I recognize that we as a society simply do not salute these dads enough. The statistics support this you know. The Axios article, "Gifts for dads this Father's Day lag behind Mother's Day," offers this sobering data:
"Consumers are expected to spend nearly 36% or $12.8 billion less on dads than they did on moms last month, according to projections from the National Retail Federation’s annual surveys."
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This isn't a new trend by-the-way. It has nothing to do with the pandemic and the great financial reset. In fact, check out this title from article from 2019 (pre-pandemic), "Why Doesn't Father's Day Get Nearly as Much Respect as Mother's Day?"
We have of course been celebrating Father's Day for a significantly shorter period of time in comparison to Mother’s Day we're talking 109 years for Mother's Day versus 51 years for Father's Day. However, we don't put as much effort into dads as we have mothers. I'm not going to deep dive into any of the sociological reasons this is occurring. However, I will say that I am personally no longer willing to punish to fathers who show up and make things happen for their children each and every day alongside the men who don't or won't. It's not fair to them. This week on my social media page, I put a call out to dads to submit their pictures with their kiddos. I want to give a special shout out to each of the fathers (and their spouses) who submitted their pics of dads and their little ones.
B.G.
"The greatest mark of a father is how he treats his children when no one is looking." ~Dan Pearce
M.W.
"A father's love is unconditional and knows no boundaries. It is a love that lasts a lifetime and beyond." ~Unknown
J.M.
"A father's tears and fears are unseen, his love is unexpressed, but his care and protection remain as a pillar of strength throughout our lives." ~Ama H. Vanniarachchy
T.G.
"A father is someone who is always there to catch you when you fall, wipe away your tears, and give you the strength to try again." ~ Unknown
B.G. submitted by wife M.G.
"A father is neither an anchor to hold us back nor a sail to take us there, but a guiding light whose love shows us the way." ~Unknown
A.J. submitted by wife W.J.
"A father is someone you look up to, no matter how tall you grow." ~Unknown
G.P.
"Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers, and singers of song." ~Pam Brown
V.I.
"A truly rich man is one whose children run into his arms when his hands are empty." ~ Unknown
D.R.
"The power of a father in a child's life is unmatched. It shapes their future, instills values, and teaches important life lessons." ~Unknown
M.W.
"A father's greatest legacy is not the material possessions he leaves behind but the love, guidance, and values he instills in his children." ~Unknown
Once again, I want to thank each and every dad and/or wife for their submission. To be honest, it was a like a healing salve to my soul to see so many fathers actively engaged with or looking lovingly into the eyes of their children.
The undeniable fact is that fathers play a significant role in the lives of their children. The majority of research confirms that an engaged father can have a vital impact, especially in areas such as cognition, behavior, overall health, and well-being. When an adolescent boy has a positive male figure in his life, it aids in the development of positive gender-related qualities. Similarly, when adolescent girls have an involved father, they are more likely to form positive perceptions of men and establish better connections with them. It is widely accepted, in most situations, that a father's presence and participation are just as crucial to a child's healthy development as a mother's presence. Furthermore, as fathers become more aware of their significance through recognition, they are increasingly motivated to be actively involved in their children's lives.
I hope you have enjoyed viewing these pictures as well. My page is small in number but growing so there are so many more dad pics that I did not have access as of yet. To keep this spirit going for the remainder of this month, please if you have a dad picture that you would like to share with others, please share it in the comments below. I as well as you need to get better at letting these active dads know that they matter. We see them. And we are not lumping them in with those others. Changing the narrative with Father's Day and fatherhood as a whole is not a one and done journey though. Please remember wherever you are on this journey, do not worry about getting it perfect; just get it going. Until next time. Happy reading!
"Being a father is the most important role a man can have. It's not about being perfect but about being present, loving, and supportive." ~Unknown
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A great post for dads.
I love that you did this with the pictures! What a thoughtful idea! I had no clue that Father’s Day has been celebrated for a lot less time than Mother’s Day! Thank you for making me aware.
Happy Dad's Day! 💙
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