The tradition of honoring Father’s Day might feel as timeless as dad jokes, but it actually has a pretty heartwarming origin story. In 1909, Sonora Dodd, inspired by Mother’s Day, wanted to celebrate her dad, William Jackson Smart, who raised her and her siblings on his own. Thanks to her efforts, the first Father’s Day took place the following year in Washington State.
However, it only became a nationwide celebration in 1972, when President Richard Nixon declared the third Sunday of June a federal holiday for dads. It took Dodd 62 years of lobbying everyone from presidents to retailers to make this day happen.
#2 I Know It's Not Perfect, But I'm So Proud Of This. I'm A Single Dad, And Last Year, I Couldn't Even Do A Ponytail. This Year, I've Given Her Heart Braids
For this occasion, Bored Panda got in touch with Ian Dinwiddy, founder of Inspiring Dads, which offers coaching to help fathers balance work and family life. Ian himself has two children and was a stay-at-home dad for both of them.
He told us his greatest joy as a parent comes from “creating the time, space and opportunity for [our] children to develop into great humans.” He also loves seeing the world through his kids’ eyes and appreciating their fresh perspective.
“We get life very wrong when we only focus on big set pieces,” Ian believes. The dad coach highlights that being present and paying attention to small details, like putting away your phone, makes a real difference.
For instance, Ian recalls one of his kids' favorite memories when they were around 6 and 3 years old. They all went to a coffee shop together, and it was raining on one side of the street but not the other. Almost a decade later, they still treasure this experience. “Special moments are all around us,” Ian insists.
#5 A Single Dad Turned Up In A Dress At Daughter's School For The Mother's Day Event. He Didn't Want His Daughter To Miss Out On Anything Or Feel Alone
#6 My Dad Spent Over 20 Minutes Writing This Graduation Note For Me. He Was Diagnosed With Brain Cancer In 2009, And Writing Is Extremely Difficult For Him, But He Still Managed To Write This
Love you,
Dad"
Ian now perceives the world as much broader and recognizes the responsibility of nurturing his kids’ individual personalities. “You have to see your children as independent people, and you are their first and potentially most important guide,” he explains.
#7 I Created A Dads' And Daughters' Hair Class To Help Other Fathers Learn About Hair. We Had A Small Class Full Of Dads That Learned Basic Brushing, Ponytails, Braids, And Buns
#8 Now That Us Kids Are All Grown Up, My Dad Reads Bedtime Stories To Our Dog
Of course, the dad coach understands the challenges fathers face, especially when adjusting to life after their child is born. A study in the UK revealed that fathers often experience stress and guilt about returning to their jobs after paternal leave, feeling torn between their responsibilities at home and work. They also worry about leaving their partners to handle the care alone.
#12 "Happy Father's Day To Every Dad Who Didn't Have A Good Example To Follow, But Who Is, Like My Husband, Breaking The Cycle And Giving His Kids What He Needed"
“I’d not really thought about coming back to work and kind of knowing that I will miss a big chunk of [my child’s] life because I am at work. I’m out of [their] life for more time than I’m actually in it,” said one of the study participants.
One more dad shared, “I remember… crying on the bus on the first day. So, a combination of just being sleep deprived and really not wanting to be there when I was at work, I felt pretty rotten.”
Another study found that many fathers continue to see themselves in a traditional role as providers and supporters of their families. As a result, they often choose not to share their stressful emotional experiences with their partners to avoid burdening them.
#17 My Parent's Cat Got Hurt, So My Dad Made Him Some Steps For His Litter Box
#18 My Brother Works At UPS And Is A New Father Of Twins, So I Took A Porch Photo Of The Three Of Them
75% of dads in the US are looking for more mental health support. “While there is still a lot of stigma around getting help for one’s mental health, this is especially true for men,” said Saba Harouni Lurie, a licensed marriage and family therapist, in response to these findings.
“Gender stereotypes dictate that men should be stoic and self-reliant, which are seen as signs of strength.”
#19 The Other Day, My Dad Called Me And Told Me His Golden Retriever Found A Baby Squirrel That Was Half Alive In The Yard. He Rescued It And Fed It. This Is Them A Few Days Later
#20 My Dad Spent 3 Hours Disassembling Wood Chipper To Rescue A Trapped Feral Kitten
