The Truth About Father's Day

Happy 102nd Father's Day!   Who came up with Father's Day?  Bet you think it was a man, jealous for attention.  Did you know that there are 70.1 million estimated number of fathers across the nation?  To find out the truth, keep reading!

The True History
The idea of Father's Day was conceived slightly more than a century ago by Sonora Dodd of Spokane, Wash., while she listened to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909. Dodd wanted a special day to honor her father, William Smart, a widowed Civil War veteran who was left to raise his six children on a farm. A day in June was chosen for the first Father's Day celebration — 101 years ago, June 19, 1910, proclaimed by Spokane's mayor because it was the month of Smart's birth. The first presidential proclamation honoring fathers was issued in 1966 when President Lyndon Johnson designated the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. Father's Day has been celebrated annually since 1972 when President Richard Nixon signed the public law that made it permanent.  http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb11-ff11.html

How much Time is spent with Daddy?

53% of children younger than 6  ate breakfast and  71% ate dinner, with their father every day in 2006. The corresponding percentages who ate with their mother were 58 percent and 80 percent.

Mr. Mom?

There were an estimate 154,000 stay-at-home dads in 2010. These married fathers with children younger than 15 have remained out of the labor force for at least one year primarily so they can care for the family while their wives work outside the home. These fathers cared for 287,000 children. http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb11-ff11.html

Love

My son loves his Daddy so much that he still runs into his arms every time Daddy picks him up at school.  Believe me, he is not easy to catch, Justin is 86 pounds! 

Tradition

What are you doing to honor your father? My son and I have a tradition for Father's Day (if doing it for 4 years can be called a tradition).  We always get Daddy a few "You're the Best Dad Ever" T-shirts, make him a card and buy him something practical from Duluth trading.   This year he wanted the shorts you see on the home page that are $5 off.  He wears the T-shirts so often, by the time next June rolls around, he is in dire need of T-shirts that remind of his son!

Homemade card

Here is the card Justin made Daddy at school:

 

This card is one-of-a kind.  

It is actually a Father's Day jumbo, booklet card with 2 pages inside.  

The front and back are made with manly scrap paper.  The tie and collar are made with construction paper.

 

 

 

 

The best part is what it says on the inside:

 

 

"My dad is special because he is nice and helpful. 

"I make my Dad smile when I do something for him.  

My dad can do many things.

He is good at making things.

I love my Dad because he loves me."

Does that make you want to call your Dad?  Please remember to hug your Dad today!

Just for fun

DADvice: Stuff Dads really say:

"Don't make me turn this car around."

"That dog isn't going to walk itself."

"You're going out looking like that?"

"There's nothing a little duct tape can't fix."

"I had to school barefoot, in the snow, uphill both ways."