Sunday 15th June

The whole concept of Father’s Day is a nonsense;  it’s just a way to sell cards isn’t it?  Or that is the cynical view.  And while there is some truth in that, it is only part of the story.  Far too often fathers are ignored, or rather taken for granted.  I have been somewhat guilty of that myself, but maybe because my mother was always so dominant, at least in my memory, that I never quite appreciated his silent presence as much as I should have.  I certainly appreciate him far more now that I am a father myself.  But really my objection to there being a Father’s Day is that everyday should be a father’s day.  Or rather like Birthdays, we shouldn’t just celebrate them on one day of the year.  Incidentally my own father’s birthday is in mid-June and quite often falls on Father’s Day anyway.  As a child Father’s Day mostly passed us by, I’m not even sure if there were special cards in the shops for it. But we are living in a more and more labeled world, where almost everything is on the telly or the internet and not only can we not escape them but we feel almost compelled to be part of them.  Shop windows are full of cards and gifts to remind us of our obligation, an obligation which should never be one at all.  Companies are cashing in with adverts for the pefect Father’s Day gift.  But everything is like that now, there is a constant stream of events, annual or every four years which draw us in, make us aware, make us take part.  So, today is Father’s Day again: cards will be bought and sent, Restaurants will be fully booked, presents will be bought by Mums for little children to hand over to Daddy.  So here is to all fathers everywhere, even those who have lost touch with their kids either through neglect or divorce or some other reason.  Everyone needs a father despite the many women who have decided to be single mums; they may be able to live without a man in their lives, but can their children?