On Father’s Day Celebrate Ordinary Fathers – They Are Heroes
Today, on Father’s Day, it is common for people to celebrate single mothers who say they do the job of fathers and mothers. I am not one of those celebrants. I am not taking anything away from all the single mothers who work so hard on their own to raise children and do a good job. Instead, I am saying it is not asking too much that on one day out of the 365 days in the year that we celebrate fathers, regular everyday fathers. Especially on Father’s Day, a holiday named for fathers. In my world, there are fathers who get up go to work and take care of their wives and children not out of obligation, but out of love and a desire to do so.
Let’s celebrate fathers who may not heroes to the world, but mean everything to their wives and children.
You don’t hear people talk about them often, but there are men who marry a woman, have children with her and then spend their lives doing everything they can to make their wives and children happy. I know they exist because I married one of them. News reports constantly talk about divorce rates and marriages that fall apart. Divorce is such a common and acceptable part of life that “Divorce Court” is one of the most popular shows on television and its Facebook page gets an incredible amount of interaction. But, where is the “Happily Married with Kids” television show. It doesn’t exist. It is boring and unexciting so it is not on television or news reports.
Photo Credit Wanda Fernandez Thomas of MadCris Images
Since there is no television show, big budget movie or book series, I will celebrate it here. My children and I want to give a big Father’s Day shout out to their father of 19, 12 and 8 years and my husband of 25 years. Here is what my children say is their favorite thing about their father.
- he’s a good listener
- he hangs out with me and talks to me
- he takes me out places on my birthday
- even though I am a vegetarian, on Fried Chicken Friday he lets me eat chicken skin
When you look at this list there is nothing exciting.
I just want to applaud this post, Janeane. This is a subject near and dear to my heart. I get so tired of hearing single moms stealing the glory of Father’s day. They get mother’s day – and I know many single dads – but I’ve never heard one try to rain on Mother’s day and take it as their own. I’ve also seen moms shut out the fathers and complain about how hard they have it – going alone – in front of the kids. Yeah. It’s personal. I just want to say, your post touched me. Thank you
Those boring lists of ours are a treasure aren’t they!
Yes, we need to encourage and applaud fathers who are doing what the should just like we do with mamas.
It is good that you teach her to appreciate her dad. It is a credit to you as a mom!
Yes! Yes, good fathers are often overlooked. But, life is so much better with them around.
It looks like you have a great family and a loving husband and father and that is worth so much. I have a great father and I am married to one also and our list is probably as unexciting too. But we are happy and that is what counts.
I think that post like these are needed to encourage and applaud the fathers that are taking care of their responsibilities as fathers.
I love how you celebrate your hubby for the man he is! Although I am not married to my daughter’s father I have always encouraged her to appreciate him for who he is.
Yes, but I think every Father/Husband/ honorable man is a hero! Possibly understated, overlooked, etc… but they do so much and play such an important role in society and in being role models for our youth.
I love the simplicity of your unexciting list… I would rather my children have a father that encourages them, loves them unconditionally and guides them on the straight and narrow. Sometimes “boring” is best 🙂
Thanks! this is one of those times whe boring is okay!
Your reply cracked me up. One of my daughters went vegetarian a year ago and she sticks to it very well. especially since she is the only one in a house full of bacon lovers. She just cannot give up the fried chicken skin, it just makes her so happy.
He is a great father for giving up the delicious skin of his fried chicken. I wish you many more years of a happy marriage.
Well I love your unexciting list! Congrats to you and your family for keeping it together and giving your children the foundation to do the same when they are adults and take the vow till death do us part.