“Happy Father’s Day to the single mothers out there doing both jobs.”
No.
Oh, I get it. And I agree that we should celebrate single Moms for everything they do to raise their kids—it ain’t easy; I have a hard enough time with two of us in the house. But let’s not diminish the efforts of the Dads who work hard to be worthy of their children’s love by treating Father’s Day like Mother’s Day II.
Real talk—we haven’t embraced the idea that we’ve got single Dads at home managing everything despite that it’s a growing demographic. I don’t see anyone wishing them a Happy Mother’s Day because they’re doing both jobs. And it doesn’t even reflect the modern family anyway—are you saying that same-sex couples need to decide what roles they’ll play? Why can’t you have two Moms or two Dads instead of trying to force them into a model that’s not as universal as it once was?
I’m down with celebrating single Moms and everything they do. But I’m going to do it on Mother’s Day. You know? The holiday we celebrated just over a month ago? The second-largest holiday for card giving in the entire year? I mean, it’s already hard enough for Dad to be taken seriously in a world convinced we’re all sub-par—let’s not continue pushing that narrative just because it’s easier to believe that “all men ain’t shit”.
Happy Father’s Day—It May Be the One Day We Recognise Great Dads for What They Are.
Single Moms don’t have it easy—no single parent does. But let’s not diminish the fact that they’re fighting tooth and nail to make sure their kids want for nothing, regardless of whether there’s a man in their lives. And let’s think beyond this idea of “Mom jobs” and “Dad jobs”.
This Father’s Day, I’m celebrating the various men I’ve met who’ve shaped my life and those of so many others, just like I did with the women in my life on Mother’s Day. And I hope after reading this, you might choose to, too!
Happy Father’s Day to my fellow Dads and father figures, and until the next, I remain,
