Father's Day

Well, I am happy (I guess) to report that Father's Day was just about as much of a blur as Mother's Day in our household. And in honor of the (almost over) holiday, a brief comparison of these two lovely occasions--
 
1. Sadly, all the things you didn't have to do on Mother's Day come back to haunt you on Father's Day. After all, since you didn't want to plunge toilets and clean up broken glass on Mother's Day, you can't really expect the dad in your household to want to do it on Father's Day. So glass and toilets it is for you.
 
2. Being married to someone who almost never wears a tie leaves the gift field wide, wide open. Perhaps not any more original, or any easier, but definitely wide open.
 
3. It occurs to me that what both mothers and fathers really want on their appointed days is essentially the same--a lovely, drama-free event with their kids, a big chunk of peace and quiet from their kids, and a single day of the year that they do not have to be responsible for things like those listed in #1.
 
4. No matter how hard I try, I never manage to do right by all of the fathers in my life on this day. By the looks of my Facebook friend group, a lot of people do a whole lot better.
 
5. Did you ever notice that the major drug store chains have a huge gift display for Mother's Day, and just a few cards and the tools of summer fun and barbecuing for Father's Day? Does that mean Dad is supposed to be thrilled with a cooler and a bag full of charcoal briquettes?
 
6. Yes, I know that Mother's Day and Father's Day presents are not really supposed to be bought at the drug store, but when you're a father or a mother, sometimes that's the only place you can get to when you're up against the clock.
 
7. Sometimes you're really better off leaving the gift-giving to the kids. After all, it is about their mother and father, and they have much more open minds about gifts and much cuter artwork than we grownups do.
 
So, thus ends another whirlwind family holiday. Can't wait to see what we'll do for the Fourth of July!