D-Day: Daddy's Day!

The day is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds and the influence of fathers in society. This celebration was brought by the Spanish and Portuguese to Latin America, where March 18 is often still used for it, though many countries in Europe and the Americas have adopted the US date, which is the third Sunday of June. Interestingly while Mother's Day was officially recognised by the US government in 1913, Father's Day had to wait until 1972.

My answer is NO. Never.

Yes! Traditionally our society is said to be a patriarchal one... where the man is the head of the family. He gets to make all the decisions and practically his decisions govern everyone's lives. A lot has been written and said about the silent sufferings and sacrifices of the mother. But let's not forget, the mother is the source of warmth and laughter in our lives, the one who is synonymous with home. While the father, the main bread winner gradually recedes to the distant corners of our mind space. For, he is not the one we turn to for comfort, he doesn't help with homework cause he is busy, he doesn't apply bandaid on our cuts, cause he is off to a meeting; in our teenage years, he is the one from whom our misadventures need to be hidden at all cost!

Our relationship with our fathers gets translated to a series of stern lectures on responsibility and future. But little do we have the chance to appreciate that it is his silent and unflinching presence that shields us and gives meaning to the word family. Just ask someone who has grown up without this shield and you would know how harsh the storms could be. When we get our first salary we automatically think of buying a gift for mom. And it is a measure of his selflessness that the father is also happy for her.

We keep thinking subconsciously that one day, when we are (in our eyes) as good as him, we would do something grand for him. But often life intervenes. And finally, when it's too late, and this shield or rock has disappeared from our lives, do we realize that we have loved our father and looked up to him, all our lives. He is and always will be our Hero !! So don't let silence overwhelm you.. this Fathers Day, tell him, just how much you love him. Your words might be the best gift to your Dad today.

Today is D-Day. Happy

Daddy's Day!