Father's Day

Happy father’s day!

I have heard that expression a lot in the past few days. I’m not a father. I do like children very much, but mutually decided years ago that we would not have children. I am just fine with that decision. I have no regrets.

When someone says, “Happy father’s day”, I just reply, “Thank you” and smile. They mean well and I take it as a complement.

I used to explain that I wasn’t a father and it made me and the complementer uncomfortable. I thought I was doing the right thing refusing a statement that was misdirected.

Last year when I was in St Croix during our trip in May, I wished a local woman a happy mother’s day. She wished me a happy father’s day. I told her I was not a father.

She said, “You are a father figure to some child or somebody, so happy father’s day”.

She was right. I have been the father figure to plenty of nieces, nephews, kids at church, neighbors, and who knows else.

So, happy father’s day to all father figures out there.