[ocracoke]

For all the single moms out there...

Last year this really wasn't an issue for me but I think it might be this year and it certainly will in the coming years.

How do you deal with Father's day? I am single mother by choice. My daughter has no father figure in her life. We talk about daddys because all of her friends have them. She knows she doesn't have one (she is 3 now). She is in day care and her teachers will have an art and craft project at some point this week to make the Father's Day cards. What do you do on Father's Day? How do you handle the day?

Samantha

[buttascotchbaby]

For the first several years of my bio son's life his father chose not to be involved. We are VERY blessed to have shared a home with my father all of my sons' life so we always celebrated my dad on Fathers Day and it was never a problem or issue. There are so many single parents out there these days, as well as grandparents, aunties, uncles, etc., raising children that, at least in our state and area, the teachers are very sensitive to that, so at school it was never something that my son had cause to feel uncomfortable about.

That was a few years ago, but I see it even more so with my youngest FD. Her school is great with things like that

[musemoon]

Kiddo is too young this year to know, but it might be a problem next year. I don't have a father either, so the only thing we have is her "daddy" who is my best guy friend and her Uncles (she one real one and one made up one) I think we may make stuff for all of them...not sure. If not then just for her God father who is my best friend.

It's tough though...do you have a church, maybe there is a father (grandfather) who is not with their kids this year...maybe you can send a hand made gift to them.

Or make a card for a soldier in Iraq....just ideas.

[vernellinnj]

Can't lie...I was glad the daycare didn't make a big deal about it. There were donuts in the lobby for dads and a sign (on a piece of copy paper) on the front door saying "Happy Father's Day". No card, craft or anything from the children.

Now for Mother's Day there was a beautiful art project with a nice photo of the child, hand prints and a poem. And, the moms were asked to come have continental breakfast with their kids. Very sweet.

Boy, sure is a double standard! Just happened to benefit me this year. FC will be older next year so we'll see how much "play" it gets.

Wonder how the single dads felt?

[Fe2002]

I was raised by a single mom and from what I recall, Father's Day never bothered me. I remember as a kid asking my mom about Father's Day and she said, "I'm your mommy and your daddy" and it worked for me. I remember that day clearly. I simply said "oh" and walked away. I did have a grandfather that I ADORED, so I'm sure that helped.

I don't know if that will work with my DD... Haven't really given it any thought (she's too young at this point). I guess, I should start thinking of something... or say what my mom said and cross my fingers.

[kerrib]

I went to breakfast on Father's Day with my daughter, mother, grandmother, and niece. At one point a woman (I think the owner) popped in between my daughter and me and said, "where's dad?"

My jaw dropped and I spluttered around for a minute while she jabbered on until she said "I won't ask anymore" and put a Father's Day mug down on the table.

My mother and sister (happily married) thought it was hysterical. I, on the other hand, thought it was insensitive and clueless. My daughter is only 2 so she didn't get it but what if she was older and hurt by it?

It's something that concerns me. She has wonderful older cousins and uncles who love her but no real, steady father figure. It's the thing I worry about the most (and can do the least about!)

[ocracoke]

I had a very similar situation happen to me. Nothing was done at day care this year for father's day so my fear was unfounded. But on Sunday night we decided to go out to the local IHOP. It was me, my daughter, my mother, and my cousin (male). My mom, my daughter and I go to this IHOP far too often and always seem to end up with the same waiter. He knows us. He has never seen us with a male until this day. And I swear he stood for about 1/2 hour at our table telling us wonderful father's day stories from the day at work. I didn't want to be rude. But I certainly wanted him to shut up.

Samantha