Fathers Day for Fatherless Kids

As I posted on Mother's Day, I'm not a big fan of the whole Hallmark Holiday tradition of Father's Day or Mother's Day. I wouldn't mind a Parent's Day, but it seem to me that to promote a couple of days that might be hurtful to a whole lot of children is shortsighted.

My kids don't have a father in their lives. Oh, they have a father. They weren't hatched or created by aliens, although the way they sometimes behave, it does make me wonder. Their father decided that parenting wasn't for him when things got a bit tough with one of my kids shortly after birth. The last time he saw my now teenage kids was when they were 6 weeks old. He's never had any part in their life, including paying child support, but that's a whole different post!

When my kids were young, in preschool and elementary school, Father's Day always presented a problem for us as a family. They didn't have anyone to make a gift for, and yet they wanted to participate in the activities and not stand out. Every year I had to make the same speech to their teachers: please be sensitive to the kids that do not have fathers. Allow them to make something for a special friend or an uncle or something. Don't make this project exclusively about fathers. Until my kids had a classmate in upper elementary school whose father died suddenly, very little attention was paid to the fatherless kids. But when this event happened, the school went well over the top to not have a special father's day at all. Which was just as wrong.

It's a difficult trap. Schools want to encourage children to honor their parents. They want to have a creative outlet for special projects. I understand that and honestly have no problem with it. But there must be some sensitivity about it all. While there are fewer kids without mothers, those that don't have them often feel bombarded with all the commercials and advertisements about Mother's Day. It's not quite as bad for Father's Day, but they are out there, all those Home Depot and Lowe's commercials suggesting that every dad wants lots of tools for their special day.

Our family has always gone to the movies for Father's Day, but my son is currently in the hospital and that won't be happening this weekend. I just hope that the hospital doesn't have some special Father's Day activity for the sick kids. But it's nothing I can control. My son is secure even without a father. I just wish society wouldn't put such pressure on kids to expect a commercial holiday with Lots Of Fun! Too much drama.

( Add your comments )

Recent Entries:
· Get out your sewing projects!
· National Sewing Month
· National Eye Exam Month?

[ READER COMMENTS ]

1

D. said:

I can emphathize but about the other parent.

I hope your son is well soon.

Posted at 05:51 PM, on June 21 2007

Fathers Day for Fatherless Kids

Add your comments...

We kindly ask that you keep your comments relevant to this blog entry. Abusive or inappropriate comments or comments that are specifically promotional in nature may be removed.