A father has the duty and responsibility of providing for the family. It is imperative that we show the respect and care that our father deserves.

Though Mother’s Day has been around for some time, the celebration of Father’s Day has been properly carried out only since 1972 when the US president Nixon made it an official holiday. The third week of June was designated as Father’s Day in the USA and ever since it has been celebrated as such in majority of the countries of the world.

an American lady named Sonora Smart Dodd, in 1910, suggested the celebration of Father’s Day in the memory of her father who was a civil war veteran and single parent of his six children. Today, millions of children across the world show respect and gratitude to their fathers on Father’s Day.

Nowadays more than ever before, women are capable of doing everything that was once considered traditionally men’s work, and what is more surprising is the fact that now men are showing their expertise in doing all that women, particularly mothers, once did. For instance, fathers today are much more involved in the day-to-day upbringing of children than those of earlier generations. Fathers can be seen doing tasks like changing diapers, putting babies to sleep, taking children to doctors, etc., which is the main reason why children are becoming closer to their father than in the past.

It takes great effort and sacrifices on a father’s part to raise, support and protect his children. He loves them a lot and makes efforts to give them the best of everything that he can manage. He guards them to make sure they don’t get into trouble or develop any bad habits.

If you have a father in your life, then be thankful for it as there are people who do not have a role model/ guardian/ provider in the form of a father. My father is not in this world and I do miss him a lot. His memories are still with me. When I had not learnt to walk, he would carry me on his shoulders; he always supported me in whatever I wanted to do but he always kept a check on me so that I would not do anything wrong. I am so thankful to him for making me a better person and if I ever come close to be as good as he was, I would be really proud of myself.

While we should show our parents love and respect all through the year and all our life, we can celebrate this day in a number of ways. For instance, give a card with a note telling how you feel about him; you don’t need to write long passages and poems, etc., all you need to do is to write what you feel about him. You can give him a gift or a flower as a powerful statement of your love for him.

You can even cook something with your mother’s help. Or you can have a surprise family get-together in or outside your home in his honour.

Learn to understand the true worth and role of your father in your life. Your father might not be perfect. He might have his shortcomings, but he has taken pains to give you the best upbringing that he can and has worked hard to provide you food, shelter, health and education. He deserves all your respect and love.

So don’t forget to hug your father and say, “I love you, father, thank you, for everything!”

Happy Fathers Day!