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Hello, amazing parents,
It’s only fair that we grade the various responses to Father’s Day this year. After all, kids are used to getting graded at school, so why not home, too?
First of all, I’d like to mention how proud of my friends I am. I saw more social media posts honouring single moms, co-parents and father figures than I saw posts saying “Happy Father’s Day”. I took note of sensitive posts offering comfort to friends whose fathers are dead as well as those who would love to be dads but aren't. I like that we’re becoming more aware of those around us.
Back to my kids.
I got a breakfast, favourite magazine and some snacks as well as a couple of handmade cards. Loved them all (apart from the pickled onion which was placed alongside the eggs in a somewhat experimental fashion). Not that I was expecting anything, of course.
I had to go to the shop to get something for us for lunch and I walked past a nearby restaurant. It was packed, full of multi-generational groups enjoying family times. Loved seeing that.
Then there were messages from Karen’s daughters, my grown-up step-kids. I have never had to be a parent to them, but they both sent kind words.
The air in the garden was thick with the mouth-watering smells of the neighbours braaiing, so I am guessing that’s how many chose to spend the day, and I could picture them chatting around a relative’s famous potato salad recipe and endless circles of wors.
None of the commerciality of Father’s Day touched me at all. It was all about family, in every context of the word.
Best memory?
Teaching my son how to play darts on Saturday only to have him beat me time after time on Sunday. And how he laughed like I haven’t heard him laugh in ages.
That, my friends, was the best gift of all.
I hope that you had time to smile, too.
What does your family do to celebrate life? Tell us your stories at chatback@parent24.com and you could feature on Parent24.
