Let’s shake up Father’s Day

By Valerie Winger

The traditional family. What is that? That is outdated jargon as far as I am concerned and, when a “holiday” such as “Father’s Day” rolls around, all it does is alienate a large segment of the population. Therefore, I am proposing a change. Let’s call it “You are Loved Day.”

In the first place, fathers work hard all year. Why confine our thanks to one day? Secondly, for those without fathers, this day is hard! Thirdly, the family unit is no longer defined as a man, woman, and children. There are families with two dads and no mom, step-dads, grandpa as the father figure, live in boyfriends… the list goes on.

This Father’s Day, celebrate what makes your family unique. Celebrate the strong adult role models. Celebrate the kids. Celebrate the pet’s contribution to the family and, by all means, if you want to, celebrate the dads! Just don’t pigeon-hole the day to one ideal if your family and your life doesn’t fit the jargon.