Why so reluctant to celebrate Father's Day?

[TheAlphaParent]

All the toddler groups I go to (I'm a bit of a group junkie) celebrated Mother's Day. Cards were made, flowers picked, hands printed, etc. Very nice.

None of them celebrated Father's Day. Not a single one. When I asked my local library (where one of the groups is held) why they celebrated Mother's Day and not Father's Day they said it was so they didn't "offend any single mothers". So it's okay to offend fathers? Okay to dismiss their contribution to parenting?

I have sympathy for single mothers (most of them are victims of circumstance) but isn't this PC approach of hiding Father's Day a little unnecessary? Children of single mothers are going to learn about fathers from a variety of sources - friends, media, books. So why hide Father's Day like a dirty secret? It sends the message that child-rearing is predominantly a woman's job, that a man's role is insignificant. Is that the message we want to send to kids? AIBU?

Having been kindly told what the original title was, I can now see why the OP has received the response they got.

That's right, it was less sympathy and more sod off.

I reckon OP has been away all night shagging one of those single mothers. You know the ones with the massive chip on their shoulders that want to ban Christmas.
Or Fathers Day or whatever.....

I agree with Mrs De Vere (I often do).

The OP was a bloke, was he?

I saw the original thread title and felt angry, but thought, I am not going to upset myself replying to this. It showed such a lack of understanding of people's different situations.

My children's father died when they were 9 and 12, and all the houla around these days brings back the hurt of the situation. I am sure it is the same for many people.

We are not saying no-one can celebrate father's or mother's day, just remember the people it is difficult for, please, and show some sensitivity.

That's all people are asking for.

You said PC. Generally this suggests someone who lacks insight into the greyer areas of life

Thanks for the thread name change MNTower - now my original pot makes no sense and makes me look a bit deranged!

"Is it a big secret, are they to be embarrassed about it? Better they understand what their situation is and accept it" - thanks for the advice .

We do live with it we do talk about it at home and discuss it openly if the moment is right. But there is a different between secret and private and my sons private reasons for lacking a father should not be cannon fodder to pander to those children who can show their appreciation of their father at anytime of the day or day 365 day a year.

As it happens DS's school have handled it reasonably sensitively so far but I am equally aware of schools who are extremely insensitive even when they are aware of it being a potential minefield.

I also think its extremely uncaring and unempathetic of anyone who thinks any child under the age 9-11 should somehow have the emotional maturity to deal with something that may be very painful for them without the help and support (and sensitivity) of the adults around them.

I can actually see the OP's point.

The Friday before Mother's Day DD came home with a card she'd made, and lovely poem about Mums that she'd made a little frame for and a daffodil she'd started to grow in a pot. Last Friday she brought home nothing for DH.

I do understand that Father's Day is a hard time of year for some, just as Mother's Day is too. I think it the aim is to be sensitive, then the school should leave them both out the syllabus.

I just don't think that Mums should be celebrated more than Dads.

My kids' schools and playgroups have never done Fathers day.I think because it's just a made-up commercial thing, unlike mothering sunday

"I just don't think that Mums should be celebrated more than Dads." neitehr do I but then I don't see why OP made a particular point of balming single mothers for this.

It doesn;t happen in our school - surely it isn't beyond the wit of man (or woman) to just ask your school why they celebrate one and not the other and ask that they celebrate either or neither.

anne, you didn't see the original thread title.

Well yes Kewcumber I have to admit that's not on.

Blaming single mums is not on, I mean.

No didn't see the title but looking more into the thread I'm guessing it was something inflammatory.