Dads are not small children

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Sure, in honor of Father’s Day, we could recommend that all the dads out there eat more vegetables and fewer burgers, that they have their blood pressure checked, that they take their medications, that they exercise more. And we could even put this well-worn message in the overly earnest, and easily ignored, do-it-for-your-family format.

But know what? Dads are adults. They don’t need to be told what to do.

Let’s check out dad blogs instead. There’s ...

Cynical Dad, whose post ‘Hannah Montana is a gateway drug’ recalls his decision to let his 5-year-old daughter, Zoey, watch Hannah Montana. He had no problems with the Vanity Fair spread understand, but from the TV show, his kid went to the pop star’s YouTube videos, then ‘High School Musical’ numbers and other Radio Disney songs. ‘And now,’ he says, ‘my daughter dances like a stripper.’

Joeprah, a stay-at-home father who describes, in a serial post, his early years of daddom. ‘I thought the ‘Bagel Club’ would be a playgroup where parents could watch their children play with other kids all while socializing with other parental units. Wrong. I found that the ‘Bagel Club’ was a forum for women to engage in gossip, gripe about their husbands, and inevitably talk about their pregnancies.’

And there’s Freaked-Out Fathers, whose author writes in a recent post, ‘Well, I guess I should be writing about serious things like parenthood, behavior modification of male role modelling. But it’s a holiday weekend and I just don’t feel like it.’ That’s the spirit! (And besides, this site is worth checking out for the cheese-rolling video alone.)

So break out the fishing-lure bedecked greeting cards! Bring on the golf-themed novelty gifts! Pay homage to the wisdom, forbearance and overall father-liness of fathers! Then if you want to give, or receive, the earnest health message, check out this men’s health quiz from the CDC. Really, it’s the best you can do. No one likes a nag.

-- Tami Dennis