I am willing to "out" myself as old enough to remember the television show Father Knows Best. Can you imagine a show with this title today that wouldn't be a comedy with a dad who doesn't have a clue? Somehow we went from the benignly paternalistic image of Robert Young arriving home from a day at the office to help solve family challenges to an endless succession of goofball dads in a state of arrested adolescence.
Today's Father's Day is actually the one hundredth, after a young woman listened to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909 and reflected on her appreciation for her father who had raised her after her mother died. The next year the congregation celebrated Father's Day and the rest is history, as they say.
I have spoken with a number of dads in recent weeks who are addressing the challenges of fatherhood in a changing day. I really like these guys, and respect their desire to navigate their way through a variety of aspects of parenthood. They are all fathers of children in our congregation and I am grateful that they are "bucking the trend" in our society of dads who are not active in the spiritual development of their kids.
Did you know about the anniversary and history of Father's Day? Have you noticed the trend toward portraying dads as rather hapless guys? Any good thoughts about fathers today? Much love to my three adult children, who make me a proud father today.
7 comments:
I just remember a bit about "Father Knows Best"... or was that just a phrase my mother gave me the odd time? I remember Fred McMurray in My Three Sons. I wish they would put such shows back on so we could reminisce and share these memories. Thank you for the history lesson... I did not know about the origin of Fathers' Day. As always your blog teaches and inspires. Happy Fathers's Day to you!
Didn't realize it was the 100th! That means my father has been around for almost as long.
Dads are absolutely integral to our society, and their absence is something I see and deal with at work almost every day. Indeed, much of the work I do at school is really "dad" style stuff. The biggest batch of this occurs each spring during grad photos when the line forms in front of my room for tie tying.
I'm happy to do it, but seriously? Where are you, guys?
I didn't know that it was 100 years old. I knew it was around for a long time before Nixon made it into law. I haven't really noticed that Dads have changed all that much on T.V, but then again I don't watch a lot of T.V. shows. I have heard of "Father knows Best" never seen it. Many movies portray fathers in a good way.
On a side note, I am glad to see that the United Church of Canada is sponsoring a show at the "People's Summit"
Monday June 21
5 pm - Eco-Debt-The Earth Speaks
10 min. A short film about how one percent of the entire populations of the earth is consuming eighty percent of the resources. Sponsored by The United Church of Canada (showing at the Toronto Underground Cinema, Toronto.)
The People's Summit have a great line up of shows all week.
You can check out the line up here.
http://smartchange.ca/event/reel-solutions-2010-peoples-summit-documentary-film-series
I count my blessings for having the father(and mother) that I do. My father and I are especially close, and my fondest memories are of him and me making model airplanes together.
In my work, I have seen too many children who were neglected by their parents. It reminds me every day how important a job parenting is.
Unfortunately, I cannot see my daughter on Father's Day, as I am currently living with 5,000 other cops in a gravel pit near Huntsville! But the first thing I had when I woke up today was a message from my daughter wishing me a Happy Father's Day and telling me she loves me. She also mentioned that she had not eaten the Father's Day gift she got me!
That message made my day....but I'm looking forward to getting home.
Thanks for the history lesson David. It's not often I am with my father for Father's Day - due to distances I was with his this weekend and it was special!
I too see on a daily basis the absence of fathers, however I hope that is changing. Friday our 4 Kinder classes hosted a "Dads and Donuts" day. The teachers claimed that between dads (of which there were many) and granddads (fewer) we had close to 100% participation from the 4 classes, that's over 80 dads present to celebrate with their kids, amazin! Now, I must say, that was Friday afternoon, today the other 4 classes will be celebrating with their dads, so we will see if the turn out is different on a Monday afternoon than a Friday afternoon. Knowing the community we are in, it is likely we will have just as strong a turn out. How awesome is that?
I grew up without a father so I tried to ignore the day until I had my own children. I now have a wonderful father in my life who I appreciate and to whom I try and show that appreciation, more than just on Father's Day.
And yes, I have noticed the bumbling fathers on TV. It seems to be really funny to have men that have no idea how to care for a household and women who are always cleaning up their messes. Is it less funny for both parents to be competent? It's an interesting turn around from the man of the house who is in charge, to the women who have to care for their children and their incompetent husband.
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