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it’s easy then, to understand why there’s no shortage of stuff on the internet calling for the end of the continued observance of parents days, or at least a name change. some suggestions include guardian’s day or father figure and mother figure day. gratitude day is another one pitched by the writer of a petition on change.org aimed at celebrating all the people we’re grateful for — not just moms and dads.
many of the arguments that support abolishing parents days entirely focus on the fact they are “ exclusionary ,” and don’t acknowledge that some children have non-traditional families, or live in abusive situations in which finding good things to say about a parent may be difficult and awful. and what about those who want to be a parent and can’t, or those who have lost a child? others argue that just one day to recognize moms and dads takes away from the fact they deserve to be celebrated throughout the year .
“mother’s day is nonsense,” meredith atwood writes in psychology today , calling it an “unfair holiday to push upon the world,” a “forced celebration” that, for some, means essentially reliving a trauma every year. she quotes a psychotherapist friend who says it can be “triggering, guilt-ridden, fearful and confusing.”
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in may, online marketplace etsy sent an email offering to opt me out of the happy-happy-joy-joy father’s day marketing splashes. i didn’t check the box, but it was really nice to have the option.
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this story originally appeared in the healthing.ca weekender. to subscribe, click here .