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Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Hidden Problem with Father's Day Cards
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Every June, I find myself in the same situation — standing in the stationary aisle with my kids, staring at dozens of Father's Day cards that don't quite meet our needs. We gaze into a sea of navy blue and tan, and are given a limited choice of themes: golf clubs, hamburgers on the grill, fishing gear or a necktie. The kids and I look at each other and shrug; none of these cards helps them articulate what they want to say, which is: Thank you for cooking dinner every night, thank you for the days when you leave work early because we need you at home, thank you for being our chauffeur on the weekend and thank you for making us feel loved. But there are no cards that capture those thoughts. So, we just choose the most innocuous of the bunch and move on. Another Father's Day card … check. I find this annual routine deeply unsatisfying. It's not just due to the lack of aesthetic choices — it is because these cards do not adequately match the current reality of today's fatherhood. The implicit message in these cards is that the essence of fatherhood lies not in a man's involvement with his family, but in his profession or his hobbies. Ironically, rather than celebrating Dad as part of the family, we focus on his activities from his family. This message is not new; this perception has existed as long as any of us have been alive. For generations, we have defined the venerable father as a man who financially provides for his family. He might also do other things for the family, but those are tangential, additional. According to tradition — and to the limited selection of Father's Day cards — a good dad is a man who brings home a paycheck and then is allowed to sneak away to his favorite fishing hole or play a round of golf. Of course, there are many ways that any parent can provide for their family. There are household tasks, such as laundry, cooking, dishes, grocery shopping, cleaning. There are caregiving tasks: giving kids a bath, helping with homework, taking time off work when kids are sick — not to mention scheduling and managing all the appointments, from dental check-ups to haircuts. And perhaps, the toughest of all, there is emotional work with kids: helping them through a challenge at school, or being there after their first heartbreak. Society has long coded these activities as a female responsibility, and data tells us that women still do the majority of this work. But little by little, our perception of a 'successful father' is evolving, and more dads are embracing household work as a way to provide for their family. According to the Survey of Contemporary Fatherhood, more than 90% of today's dads believe that fathers should play an active role in their children's lives, that a dad's involvement is essential for children's well-being. We are seeing a rise in stay-at-home dads. And more dads are looking for a flexible work schedule; not because they want to golf or go fishing, but because they want to be present at home, support their partner's career, and spend more time with their kids. This redefinition of fatherhood is not just the result of natural progression. Social change requires intentional behavior. Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice does research, advocacy and programming to change the way we think about fathers and fatherhood. One core component of Equimundo's work is specifically aimed at increasing men's role in caregiving, and they've found that more dads doing more hands-on care work in the home does not just benefit their partners and kids — it also benefits dads. 'Men themselves benefit as they embrace the daily joys that come along with doing the hands-on work that care requires,' says Gary Barker, founder and CEO of Equimundo. 'Our research from around the world finds that men who report being more involved in the daily care of their children and emotionally closer to their children are happier, they are more motivated at work and they tend to take greater care of themselves. Whether they live with their children, or live apart, involved fathers are happier and healthier. And for those of us who have the experience, it is a self-evident truth that the relationships with our children are among the most powerful and meaningful parts of our lives." Maybe you're thinking sure, this all makes sense. But why make such a fuss about a greeting card we send once a year? Father's Day is an important cultural touchpoint. According to Hallmark, Father's Day is the 4th largest card-giving holiday in the United States, and roughly 72 million cards are exchanged every June. Imagine the subconscious, reinforcing impact of those 72 million messages on our culture year after year. This year, let's move past the old stereotypes and use card-giving as a way to embrace an expanded definition of a 'good dad.' We can use Father's Day to highlight that fatherhood is so much more than a 9-to-5 at the office or a weekend BBQ. We can celebrate those dads who are providing for their families in many different ways, and honor fathers for the care work they do. We can also challenge outdated cultural norms, and set clear expectations of what we expect fatherhood to look like in the future. 'Many of us have in our heads that mothers are the main caregivers," Barker agrees, "the ones who really know what they are doing and that dads are really kind of deficient when it comes to care. That's why it's so important that we send daily messages that [dads] can and should be just as much the caregivers as moms.' This may be especially important for the new dads in our lives. A new generation of men are entering parenthood, perhaps celebrating their first Father's Day this year. They have the luxury of a blank slate, and a lifetime of opportunities ahead of them. Do we want to limit these new dads to the traditional role of "provider?" Or do we want to help them fully embrace a wider range of fathering possibilities — to be the dad they want to be. As a researcher and writer of gender norms, I will be the first person to admit we still have a lot of work to do before achieving household gender equality. And, still, I believe it is important to celebrate our successes — and think about the ways we are each embracing change. In that spirit, Good Housekeeping has created four Father's Day cards for you to download, print (double-sided works best) and give to the dads in your life. These cards, we hope, come closer to illustrating our evolving expectations of fatherhood: a dad giving a bath, a dad reading books, a dad and grandpa preparing a meal, and a dad doing a TikTok dance with his teenager — all of which aim to capture those sweet, every day moments that dads share with their family. We made two versions of each card: a color version, and one that also works as a coloring page that kids can fill in themselves. I showed these four illustrations to my kids and asked, which one is best for your dad? They knew immediately — their favorite was the dad reading books. When I asked why they chose that one, they replied, 'Because it is so real. It's so cozy. That's something that we have done with dad ever since we were little … something we still do with dad all the time.' My kids were drawn to the illustration because it made them feel something. Unlike a photo of golf clubs or a necktie, this illustration captured a snapshot of fatherhood; a routine that made them feel warm, content, important, and loved. Hopefully, when my husband opens this card on June 15th, he'll feel the Message: "Best Dad. Better Dancer. Happy Father's Day!" Shop Now Shop NowInside Message: "Dad, you've taught me so much! Happy Father's Day!" Shop Now Shop NowInside Message: "Thanks for all that you do! Happy Father's Day!" Shop Now Shop NowInside Message: "I couldn't ask for a better role model. Happy Father's Day!" Shop Now Shop Now You Might Also Like 67 Best Gifts for Women That'll Make Her Smile The Best Pillows for Every Type of Sleeper
Daily Mail
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Al Pacino's son Ramon looks just like him when he was young as ex Noor takes the child to a park
Al Pacino 's little look-alike son Ramon was spotted enjoying a fun day at the park with his mom in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The Oscar winner, 85, shares the tyke with film producer Noor Alfallah, 31. Mother and son were seen enjoying the slide at sunny Coldwater Canyon Park. Alfallah looked relaxed in faded black jeans with a black hoodie and black and white Adidas sneakers. The Apprentice executive producer's long dark hair was brushed straight and she appeared to be wearing little makeup and place dark sunglasses atop her head. Young Ramon, who turns two June 30, looked adorable in a white T-shirt, black shorts and beige sneakers. He seems to have inherited his father's wavy black hair. The toddler, who has several teeth, held on tight to a little snack pack as he and his mother took their turn on the slide. Pacino and Alfallah began their May-December relationship bumping in to each other at the celebrity hotspot E. Baldi in Beverly Hills a year after initially meeting at a dinner hosted by mutual friends. 'I thought it was cool. I thought, wow, that's Al Pacino. I went to film school, so I wasn't dumb about who he was,' she told Vogue Arabia. 'He's a very talented and unique person. But I had no intention of thinking like, oh, he is going to be my son's father one day.' The two discovered they lived close by each other and during the pandemic, she said, 'we started spending every day together, playing chess and watching movies. It was like film school with Al Pacino,' she said of the experience. Explaining the transition from friends to lovers, she said merely, 'I guess, it just became something more.' Although many were surprised at the 53-year age gap, Alfallah seemed to take it all in stride. 'I've been an old soul all my life,' she claimed. 'I have friends who are 70 years old; men and women who are just totally my friends who I love, who I'd rather be with than people my age. I've always been like that.' 'I don't know why. I think I like the wisdom, the experience, the life in them. That's attractive to me.' Alfallah and Pacino are not together romantically any more, but they reunited professionally for their next project. She is a producer on Dead Man's Wire, a film based on the true story of a former real estate developer who takes the mortgage banker who did him wrong hostage using a sawed-off shotgun, demanding $5 million and a personal apology. Pacino stars along with Bill Skarsgård and Coleman Domingo in the historical thriller set for release later this year.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Olivia Munn thought she named her daughter after her mother - but it was based on a lie
Olivia Munn and John Mulaney named their daughter Méi June, believing "June" was their mother's nickname and a way to honour her. Munn's mother had claimed people used to call her June, prompting the name choice. After the birth announcement, Munn's mother showed little enthusiasm for the name and even suggested alternatives. Munn later discovered her mother fabricated the nickname story simply to make conversation. Despite the revelation, the couple decided to keep their daughter's name, Méi June.
News.com.au
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Justin Bieber's elaborate Mother's Day present for Hailey
After raising eyebrows for declaring "mothers day sucks ass" on his Instagram page, Justin Bieber pulled out all the stops to celebrate his wife after the pair welcomed their son last August.
Fox News
11-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Laine Lawson Craft On Prayer And Parenthood
It is Mother's Day, and every mother knows the role is difficult, yet fulfilling. Mother of three, host of The Warfare Parenting Podcast and author of The Parent's Battle Plan: Warfare Strategies to Win Back Your Prodigal , Laine Lawson Craft, shares her astounding advice on parenthood and surviving the toughest challenges. Her book covers practical steps to help a loved one out of a challenging situation and how to rebuild trust after a strained period of time. Laine also advocates for the power of hope and continuous prayer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
