Remember Father’s Day

Father’s Day—the one official day annually when families show recognition and appreciation for their fathers—is a tradition dating back to the early 1900s. But in modern times, with traditional families on the way out and fatherhood deteriorating, Father’s Day may become a relic.

June 17, 2005

Every year on the third Sunday of June in America, Dad gets special attention and reward recognizing his sacrifice and hard work for his family. And with Americans spending over $8 billion on their dads for the event, it is little wonder that advertisers invest so much into Father’s Day.

But statistics show that a diminishing number of Americans have reason to celebrate on this day.

In a society where divorce is rampant, single parenting is common, and cohabitation is the norm, for many Americans, dadhood isn’t what it used to be. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, of the 66.3 million fathers in America, only 26.5 million are married with children under 18. www.fatherhood.org informs us that, between 1960 and 1995, the percentage of American children living in single-parent homes increased from 9 to 27. An estimated 40 percent of American children live in homes without their biological father. Among African Americans, that number is about 75 percent.

Families without fathers can experience devastating consequences. Columnist Phyllis Schlafly wrote June 15, “Most of our social problems are caused by kids who grow up in homes without their own fathers: drug abuse, illicit sexual activity, unwed pregnancies, youth suicide, high school dropouts, runaways and crime.” Yet, so often, society’s most prominent leaders overlook this connection between fatherlessness and teen pathologies.

A strong movement is afoot to portray fathers as unimportant and unnecessary. The institution of marriage itself is more commonly considered merely temporary, if not entirely antiquated. Yet the fruits of stable families headed by a dedicated father are obvious. Study after study shows that good fathers not only have a positive and powerful impact on their families, but on society as a whole.

It certainly is a role worthy of honor—even codified within the fifth of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:12)—not just one day out of the year, but every day.

To understand more deeply the vital significance of fathers, read our booklet Conspiracy Against Fatherhood. Practical instruction on how to recapture some of the fundamental qualities of strong fathering can be found in our article Fatherhood 101.