No one cares enough about fathers

On a list of the 20 most celebrated days, Christmas topped the list, followed by Mother's Day, and Father's Day was fifth.

 Everyone takes fathers for granted, including their wives and children. Even fathers take themselves for granted; they do not feel they deserve a thank you or an appreciation.

Fathers remind their children to thank moms for everything and to compliment moms for everything they do or even attempt to do for the children. "Say thank you to Mom for breakfast, lunch, and dinner." "say thank you to mom for the cake she chose for your birthday, for throwing this graduation party for you," etc.

But there is never a thank you for striving day and night to pay the bills on time. No one remembers to thank the father for paying for that graduation party, the cake, school fees, etc.  

That is the father's job, for sure, to provide and protect. It is also the mom's job to care for, nourish, and make the house a home for the family. But why is one showered with appreciation, individually and institutionally, and the other is taken for granted?

In workplaces, organizations boast all over the media about celebrating Mother's Day. It might even look funny and ridiculous to ask for the same treatment from the workplace for the fathers on the payroll.

My aim in this article is to:

• Tell children to show appreciation to their fathers and not take them for granted. Your good father is a man who is strong and resilient and the head of the family, but he still needs respect and appreciation. How much you spend on gifts to buy for your father is not a sign of how much you love and appreciate him. I get that. But do you at least consider doing that? How about "Thank you, Dad, for sending me to this private school" or "Thank you, Dad, for taking us to this amazing restaurant"? That "thank you" does not cost a penny for sure. Please do that before it is too late. I considered myself a good son to my father. God rests his soul. But I still feel I should have given and shown him a more and better appreciation for working three jobs a day – keeping his big family away from charity gratuities. But it is too late now.  

• Tell all the good fathers who provide and protect that you deserve appreciation from those you provide and protect. You do not have to remind or hint to them to show appreciation. Even if they do not give it to you, appreciate yourself. Reward yourself. Do not feel guilty about treating yourself well by buying the things you like, the hobbies you want, the breaks, and the switch-off time you like and need. You have to provide and protect yourself as well. And do not be ashamed of that.