Father's Day Weekend: Fun and Family

Reading up about Father's Day on folks' blogs and columns etc., it strikes me that there are two distinct ways to celebrate this day-for-Dads.

One is to have a day -- similar to the one many Moms want to have on Mother's Day -- where it's all about celebrating and accommodating the Parent d'jour. Fathers don't want as much pampering, perhaps, but those who choose this kind of day want plenty of Dad-time - to golf, or fish or laze around and watch NBA finals.

The other way is to spend the time being extra-fatherly, if you will, spending time with the kids, doing things for the kids, being surrounded by family.

No way is better than the other, and actually, there's probably a hybrid of the two that works for some people, as well. But most folks seem to fall into one of those two main camps.

This was Lester's fourth Father's Day and each year he pretends that he wants to have the Father's Day free-for-all. He comes up with all these things he says he's going to do all day long "by.MY.self!" He threatens not to come home until long after the kids go to bed.
I am always just fine with that - it's his day, after all. But I also know him better than he knows himself.

Because every year, we do some version of this:
 

Playground fun.

Cherry picking at Baugher's Farm.

Head off as a family for Sunday brunch.

Watch Clair climb on EVERYTHING and give Mommy a heart attack. She is, hands down, my climbiest, most fearless child.

Pose for family photos.

Go hang out with my Dad at my Mom's house, get clothes soaked by Russy, eat Popsicles and all kinds of other junk and just spend time with family all day.

Like I said, either way of spending Mother's Day or Father's Day is fine by me. Lord knows, there will be plenty of Mommies' days that I plan to spend at the pedicurist.

I just thought I would let the record show that Lester does not know himself as well as he thinks he does.

Maybe on his birthday I'll convince him to go out and have time to himself.