During this month of June, we celebrate fathers on the third Sunday, June 15. You usually only think of a male parent when you refer to a “father,” however, there are several types of fathers. For example, a father can be referred to as a person of the Trinity, a church father is a priest. Another meaning is one who originates something, like the father of medicine. Therefore, “Father’s Day” can have several meanings.

In 1924 U.S. Pres. Calvin Coolidge introduced celebrating fathers and in 1966 Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson issued a proclamation that recognized the day. It became a national holiday in 1972, when Pres. Richard Nixon signed legislation designating the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day.

In almost all cultures, fathers are regarded as secondary caregivers. This perception is slowly changing with more and more fathers becoming primary caregivers while mothers go to work, or in single-parenting situations and male same-sex parenting couples. Clearly, the image of the married father as the primary wage earner is changing. The social context of fatherhood plays an important part in the well-being of men and their children. It has been estimated that 24% of single parents are men.

Involved fathers offer developmentally specific provisions to their children and are impacted themselves by doing so. Active father figures may play a role in reducing behavioral and psychological problems in young adults. An increased amount of father–child involvement may help increase a child’s social stability, educational achievement,and their potential to have a solid marriage as an adult. Their children may also be more curious about the world around them and develop greater problem-solving skills. Children who were raised with fathers perceive themselves to be more cognitively and physically competent than their peers without a father. Mothers raising children together with a father reported less severe disputes with their child.

The father figure is not always a child’s biological father, and some children will have a biological father as well as a step- or nurturing father. When a child is conceived through sperm donation, the donor will be the “biological father” of the child but not necessarily the active father. Fatherhood as a legitimate identity can be dependent on domestic factors and behaviors. The term ‘single father’ includes men in a variety of family circumstances. About half (52%) are separated, divorced, widowed or never married and are living without a cohabiting partner; some (41%) are living with a non-marital partner; and a small share (7%) are married but living apart from their spouse.

Cohabiting single fathers are particularly disadvantaged on most socioeconomic indicators. They are younger, less educated and more likely to be living in poverty than are fathers who are raising children without a spouse or partner in the household. Overall, two-thirds (67%) of households with children are headed by two married parents; in 1960, this share was 92%.

The increase in single-father households is likely due to a number of factors, most of which have also contributed to the increase in single-mother households and to the decline of two-married-parent households. First and foremost, there has been a marked increase in the share of non-marital births. Even though divorce rates have leveled off in recent decades, they remain higher than they were in the 1960s and 1970s. Some experts suggest that changes in the legal system have led to more opportunities for fathers to gain at least partial custody of children in the event of a breakup as well.

At the same time, the role of fathers has evolved, and the public now acknowledges their importance not only as breadwinners but also as caregivers. Analysis of long-term time use, data shows that fathers are narrowing the still sizable gap with mothers in the amount of time they spend with their children. Pew research surveys find that the public believes that a father’s greatest role is to provide values to his children, followed by emotional support, discipline and income support. Public opinion ascribes roughly the same hierarchy of roles to mothers.

Fathers engage in really costly forms of care. In that way, humans stand out from almost all other mammals. The role of dads varies widely between cultures and some other animal dads may give helpful glimpses of our evolutionary past. However, many mysteries remain about how human fathers evolved their peculiar, highly invested role, including the hormonal changes that accompany fatherhood. A deeper understanding of where dads came from and why fatherhood matters for both fathers and children could benefit families of all kinds. If you look at other mammalian species, fathers tend to do nothing but provide sperm. Mothers carry the burden in most other animals that care for their children, too.

There’s a frequently used quote: “Any man can become a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad.” It seems to many people the word “father” has a more formal connotation, while the word “dad” is warm and loving. Knowing the difference is key to being the parent that we truly want to be. Certainly, Father’s Day pays tribute to the dads or really good fathers.

If a great father raised us, we likely know some of his best qualities of being a dad and try to emulate them. Dads are great guys who have their priorities straight and understand what is most important in this life. They love their children no matter what and teach them the ways of the world. So, what is a dad?  Being a dad is a father role that is not given by accident. They may have been tough before kids, but living with their children has created a soft spot that has made them better than the person they were before.

Good fathers, or dads, will show love in many forms: gestures, attentiveness, and verbal and physical affection. They often get emotional at moving moments with their kids. They work at ensuring that their children know that they are loved.  They play with their kids. They don’t pass up the chance to get a laugh out of them. They develop a relationship that their children value. Bonds are formed during laughter and happy times that kids won’t forget. Being a playful dad is fun for both the dad and the kids, and it makes parenting easier! Having a few minutes of fun will make your kids more agreeable and distract them from the issue at hand. Dads or good fathers, are seen to have this figured out!

The best of dads listen when their children speak. It doesn’t matter if they are two years old and babbling about nothing or 17 and dealing with their first heartbreak; a dad will listen to every word. They do so actively and make their child feel as though there is nothing more important than what they have to say. 

Good fathers or dads are often loaded with great advice. A lot of dads have advice because of how well they know their children. After listening to them and being fully present in their lives, dads better understand their children’s personalities and strengths. Good dads teach their children how to be self-sufficient. This often includes teaching life skills, like self-defense, how to change a tire, or how to mow their grass. Dads make sure their kids do not have to rely on other people to do everyday tasks. All this contributes to acknowledging all the goodness that fathers provide in this world. Therefore, we celebrate Father’s Day every year and “add life to years.”