Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21, 2015. Adoption STAR hopes all the wonderful dads out there have a great day!
Often in the adoption field we hear so much about the birth mother and the adoptive mother, but what about our birth fathers and adoptive fathers? They are as important as any parent in the adoption circle.
Sonora Smart Dodd was an influential figure in the creation of Father’s Day. Her father raised six children by himself after the death of her mother. This was not very common in the early 1900’s, as many widowers placed their children in the care of others or quickly re-married.
Sonora was inspired by Anna Jarvis, who encouraged the recognition of a day for mothers to be known as Mother’s Day. Sonora felt that her father deserved the same recognition.
The very first time Father’s Day was held in June of 1910. Father’s Day wasn’t officially recognized as a holiday until 1972 when President Nixon deemed it so.
Today, Father’s Day is a time to appreciate the fathers and father-like figures in our lives.
Whether you are a birth father, adoptive father, or hope to be a father, we wish you the very best day ever on June 21!
What is an Adoptive father?
By Jane F. Murphy
An Adoptive father…
is the one who signs the countless forms,
writes the many checks,
and patiently listens to his wife’s stories
about the latest adoption rumors
An Adoptive father…
goes to work and worries about
adoption fees, pre-existing insurance.
And the bully down the street
who calls his child a name.
An Adoptive father…
drives a truck, works on Wall Street,
or supervises a factory,
and shyly, but proudly shows off
his new daughter’s picture to his co-workers and friends.
An Adoptive father…
knows he is black, brown, white or yellow,
he has an Italian, Greek, Irish or Polish name,
and still eagerly waits for the compliment
that his Thai son is just like his “dad”.
An Adoptive father…
experiences the conception, labor and birth of adoption
only to privately wipe his tears; step aside,
and watch…
as his wife is handed their child to hold, for the
first time.
An Adoptive father…
is many things. He is often forgotten,
overlooked, never written about or seldom praised,
and yet…
without him; where would our children be?
Birth Father’s Day Poem
Author Unknown
Fathers need not fathers be.
All one needs to do is choose
To love for life, and that embrace,
Held long and hard, bestows the grace
Each craves. For all in time must lose,
Restored alone by memory.
So now it is with you and me.