Your Practice Caregiver Advocate: Dr. Cynthia Speaks!
Topic: Celebrating Fathers That Care On Father’s Day!
It’s June, and Father’s Day is right around the corner! We celebrate Fathers, and we thank you! Fathers often go unnoticed regarding the care they provide. I wonder why? Well, I’m glad you asked. Many feel it is the expectation of every father to care. It is! Many feel every father expects to provide. It is! While we may feel this way, we should also feel gratitude for every father who shows up daily to care. Father’s Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June every year.
The word care tied to fathers feels a little unusual. This is because most of us have put fathers in a particular category that does not fit the narrative of caregiving. Let me break it down easy…Fathers are caregivers, too! Not only to their minor children but also to spouses, disabled adult children, and aging parents. They are teachers, setting examples for those under their care to follow. They are role models for life’s lessons. Fathers provide wisdom and leadership. Fathers offering emotional encouragement and insight, while instilling values and moral principles. Fathers are not replaceable. They are capable. They are resilient. Fathers are our protectors. Their unique role is theirs alone.
There is a shift in society regarding how fathers approach the role of caregiver when confronted with it. Their experiences, emotions, mental strain, and uncertainty are no different when faced with a life-altering situation with a loved one. The need for support is just as great.
Fun Fact Regarding Father’s Day: On June 19, 1910, Sonora Smart Dodd started the first Father’s Day in Spokane, Washington, to honor her father, William Jackson Smart, a Civil War veteran & single parent.
As Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, it is essential to acknowledge all the fathers who care. Regardless of the level of interactions, they are a part of our landscape, and without their steady hand, steady voice, and steady love, where would we be? I did not have the pleasure of realizing the depth of a father’s genuine care growing up. My father passed when I was 11 years old. What I remember was his protection of his 4 little girls whenever we were out and about. It’s Father’s Day. We celebrate you. We thank you! Be Safe! Be Well!
Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman is a retired registered nurse and case manager, serving as the CEO of Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate. She’s excited to share her latest book, The Essential Caregiver Training Course for Corporations and Community. Her previous works, From the Lens of Daughter, Nurse, and Caregiver: A Journey of Duty and Honor and The Black Book of Important Information for Caregivers, reflect her experiences and insights gained during her heartfelt caregiving journey.
