My feelings on the capitalist-patriarchal conspiracy which is Mother’s Day are quite clear. It was a fob-off for women who do most of the work most of the time. So they get one insipid little day a year to go home to visit their Mummies (and all the work that goes into it). It is patriarchal obfuscation at its finest: one day a year. Despite doing all the shit work. And, that’s without getting into the issue of whose responsible for mothers-in-law. Here’s a hint: not usually the person with a penis they gave birth too.
Father’s Day, on the other hand, is just the kind of stupid prize men give themselves in self-congratulatory hypocrisy because, God forbid, women get something men don’t. (See also International Men’s Day in response to International Women’s Day). Giving yourself a prize for doing nothing is totally a male response. And utterly pathetic.
Here’s a couple of tips for men on Father’s Day:
Do 50% of the parenting.
Do 50% of the scut work.
Do 50% of the shit work.
Get up in the middle of the night with your sick kids.
Take the day off work when your kids are sick.
You don’t get rewards for acting like an adult. You shouldn’t get one for being a parent.
Pay maintenance. Not paying maintenance is child abuse.
You show up for contact. There is nothing more important than your children. You skip contact to watch football, then you are a shit father.
Domestic violence makes you a shit father. Abusing your partner in front of your children is child abuse.
If you can’t name your child’s teacher, best friend or medication, you are a shit father.
If you can’t name your child’s favourite toy, you are a shit father.
If you need to be told what time your child’s school starts or the names of their after-school activities, you are a shit father.
Parenting is a 24/7 job with no breaks or overtime. If you don’t understand that, then don’t have PIV. Children deserve real fathers; not neglectful arse wipes who care more about their cocks than they do their children.
Yes yes YES to all of this. Excellent post.
Hah brilliant! On the money as usual