Reporter’s Notebook -- Christine Carrillo
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Father’s Day is fast approaching, and I’m as usual unprepared.
I blame elementary school.
Every year, come Mother’s Day, my teachers would set aside an
afternoon to work on beautifully handcrafted gifts for our mothers. The
thing is, that wasn’t the case for our fathers.
Because Father’s Day fell so close to the end of the school year, my
teachers never seemed to find the time to do the same for our dads.
I can recall one year, when my brothers and I were much younger, we
had each made Mother’s Day gifts in school but made nothing for Father’s
Day. Feeling the weight of guilt on our shoulders, the three of us
decided to take things into our own hands. We decided to make him
something on our own.
We proved ourselves capable.
But alas, that was just one year out of many, many years that have
followed during which it never fails that we manage to wait to the last
possible minute to prepare.
And, of course, not only do we wait, but we try to hide the fact that
we waited, pretending that we’ve been planning and shopping for weeks.
Thankfully, we can always count on my dad to pretend he didn’t notice.
Thanks, Dad.
While I can blame my lack of knowing how to prepare for Father’s Day
on elementary school for a while, things change and I’ve grown up.
So, what’s my excuse now?
For lack of a better scapegoat, I’m going to say society.
I’ve noticed that I’m not the only one who seems to somehow forget
Father’s Day. And it’s not actually forgetting Father’s Day, it’s not
giving it the same grandeur received by other holidays, like Mother’s
Day, for example.
When Mother’s Day nears, society makes certain you know it. It could
be because of the large amount of retail sales and specials, but more
likely it’s thanks to the mothers themselves, who sprout seeds in the
minds of their loved ones to make sure they don’t forget. Men, generally,
take a more humble approach, a more quiet approach. They may mention some
trinket they could use or some tool they can’t do without, but it doesn’t
evoke the same response.
In all honesty, I think it’s more than reminders.
The role of fathers is often seen as ideal but not necessary. They’re
nice to have around, but their presence doesn’t effect a child as much as
a mother’s does.
I disagree.
I don’t know how I would have gotten this far in my life without my
father, and I don’t know how my brothers would have become the men they
are without him either.
His role in our lives has been every bit as important as my mother’s,
and he should be given the same fanfare.
With that said, I must go back to my comment about being unprepared.
If I am so appreciative of my father, why is it that I can’t seem to get
it in gear?
Well, I have an answer.
I forgot.
To be honest, I realized Father’s Day was coming up a few weeks ago
when my brother and I went shopping. Thanks to all the wonderful Father’s
Day sales, he was able to reap what should have been my father’s
benefits. While that did remind me the annual event was closely
approaching, I still didn’t know when.
Two calendars on my desk and a huge reminder like that, and I still
didn’t know when.
Finally, I remembered to look it up. Now, that wonderful calendar that
tells me when Waitangi Day in New Zealand (Feb. 6) and Canada Day (May 1)
is will come in handy.
With the date in hand (Sunday, for all of you in worse shape than I
am), I tried to think of how I might do something special for him and
buying him presents with his money didn’t seem as appropriate,
considering I have a job of my own.
Keeping in mind I still have two days of shopping left, which, staying
true to form, I plan to take advantage of, I decided to dedicate my first
Reporter’s Notebook to him.
Hope you liked it, Dad.
Happy Father’s Day. I love you.
* Christine Carrillo is the news assistant. She may be reached at
(949) 574-4298 or by e-mail ato7 [email protected] .
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