The last month or so I’ve been inundated with endless press releases about everything ranging from umbrellas to expensive experience days for my Fathers Day gift guide. Most of the emails seem to take it as read that I’m going to be running a Fathers Day gift guide too.
Well I’m not.
And it’s not because I’m a lazy bugger but frankly blokes generally don’t tend to make the same sort of sacrifices for parenthood that mums do- be it in terms of salary, career prospects, or even lack of sleep and general child related insanity. Obviously there are some, a minority, that go well beyond the extra mile but they know who they are and an umbrella is pretty akin to a slap in the face for them I’m sure.
I think the push to ensure we all buy piles of random crap for each other (with the associated card of course) at regular intervals throughout the year (Valentines, Easter, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Grand Parents Day, Halloween, Guy Fawkes) is a sad commercialisation of our lives.
Well you know, sod it. Don’t spend money on me, don’t buy me pointless stuff because I’m a dad. Being a dad is enough reward in itself for goodness sake. Buying me things to celebrate it seems fake and almost like rubbing it in for all those dads that wont get to see their kids on Fathers Day for whatever reason.
I’ll leave you with this video I spotted on Twitter about the true meaning of Fathers Day. Meanwhile, I’m off to wrap up wifey’s wedding anniversary present. Some things are worth celebrating.