65) Dads Day

In honor of Father's Day, a little something about Dads.*

It's hard to generalize Dads. Just as we are all individuals, each Dad is an individual parent with his own definition of what it means to be a father. There are stay at home Dads, live across the world Dads, lax Dads, strict Dads, uninvolved Dads, too involved Dads - you get the picture.

The only way to comment on Dads in a universal way is to examine our expectations for a Dad. In the traditional sense, we expect him to be male, though this too can't be a blanket statement, what with the growing prevalence of same-sex parents. We expect him (or her) to be a provider - not necesssarily just the monetary sort, but also of love and emotional support. We expect him to teach us something, to help form us as human beings whether positively or negatively. We expect protection and guidance in a "Dad knows best," way.

Whether or not your Dad meets some or all expectations, fathers are significant figures. From the small microcosm of immediate family to the ubiquitous themes of abandonment issues and paternal approval, Dads (and lack of Dads) are undeniably impactful.

Today, in addition to the brunches/dinners, cards and gifts, take a minute to appreciate the significance of your Dad - the ugly, the bad, the good and the great. Happy Father's Day.

*Ahhh, I don't have a good picture of me and my Dad on this computer, so I'll have to upload one later. No visual today.