Happy Parents’ Day!

This week has thankfully proved to many of us that there is actually a season that brings sunshine and warmth to our fair land. I feel I deceive my children when I promise to do certain things outside “when the summer comes” or “when it’s a bit warmer”! Thankfully, this week, some of these promises were kept with our ability to picnic in the garden, splash about in the [birth] pool, and ‘galocher‘ ice cream several times throughout the day; and hats and coats were left in the boot of the car! It’s been a wonderful week and the kids seem happy to be around their parents; and the parents are happy to be around the kids! And it ain’t over yet…

So, feeling all positive about my stay-at-home-dad status, I was happy to discover that today – June 1st 2013, is now a worldwide celebration day of parents. So, Happy International Parents’ Day to all readers who are parents, or have parents!

So, before you start the cynical criticisms about this being another exploitative celebration from card-makers around the world – you’re wrong – this is actually a UN resolution (66/292 to be more precise) to recognise the role of parenting! Yes, the United Nations reckons we need to universally look at the positive role parents play in society. After all, would there be much of a society if there were no parents? Actually, who would provide a new generation of leaders to sit around the UN table, if parents were not here?

So, looking at it this way; us parents are very important people and therefore we should be celebrated. I know some of you are asking, do we really need a celebration day for parents? Sure we already have a Mothers’ Day and a Fathers’ Day? Why is this new parents’ day slotted in between these existing parental dates? Has the UN just placed parenting between the celebrated mothers and fathers of this planet?

This inaugural celebration day of parents is hopefully to show how “families built on the recognition of equality between women and men will contribute to more stable and productive societies.” Well, chronologically at least, the United Nations have certainly placed the day between women and men. As to how the ‘more stable and productive society’ will pan out after celebrating International Parents’ Day is probably based on the notion that men, if they clean the house more, will reap the benefits of a more amorous partner. 😉 Not sure how true that is!? [Any comments on that Irish Parenting Bloggers?] And, I have to question how productive can a parent be while being a parent – I constantly feel everything I do is only half done.

But the UN don’t seem to have the half done scenario at all. Along with the three celebration days mentioned above, there’s even an International Day of Families observed on the 15th May every year. Did you know that? It was celebrated only a few weeks ago. I can’t remember it, but it supposedly ‘provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families and to increase knowledge of the social, economic and demographic processes affecting families.’ Again, I think they’re trying to point out how parents rarely get out, money seems to evaporate and the sense of crowded isolation hits several times a week. Fair play to them for this recognition.

So, looking at the work of the UN in recognising Mothers, Fathers, Families, and now Parents; you’re wondering if they have left anyone out? Well the answer is No, because on November 20th each year we can celebrate worldwide fraternity and understanding between children, and their welfare, with Universal Children’s Day. And then there’s the people who are neither parents or children, and who might feel aggrieved by only getting an single day of recognition with International Day of Families, so the UN provides International Women’s Day on the 8th March, and then there’s International Men’s Day on 19th November each year

So all in all, there are a few days throughout the year that are universally recognising our great contribution to society, no matter how old you are in the family! So, if you are a young child reading this today, remember to treat your parent well this Bank Holiday weekend. No whining, fighting, screaming or shouting at us. Like our summer, it may only come once a year, but its still real.

Peter McKee ‘The Meaning of Life’ available here

Ship Ahoy!

I’ve always liked flexibility. When I had children I realised flexibility is very important. A recent Saturday plan of mine was to head into the city to see a photographic exhibition. I had made a few unsuccessful attempts previously but today was the last day of this showcase, so I really wanted it all to work.

I did the considerate parenting approach: let the kids know the night before that I wanted to go out the following morning. I mentioned it again over breakfast. Encouraged their participation with a promise of a playground session while we were in the city…the suggestions of one theory of parenting! However, today was a stay at home and play day in the kids minds. How do I know this? Because they dawdled at everything they did. They played together in amazing synchronicity – the age gap between them (6+2) rarely let’s this happen, but it happened this morning. Distraction after distraction was all that happened this morning.

So I made the choice to create the chaos that ensues the compulsory extraction of kids from a playtime and got us into the car and headed into the city. Three grumpy heads took the (necessary!?) journey. As we approached the city I noticed a navy / naval / marine boat docked on the quay wall and slowed down. A small group of people were standing alongside waiting to board, and I quickly considered us joining them. Without hesitation I pulled onto the quay and stopped to ask the kids would they like to go on board? They jumped at the chance after the six year old clarified that this spontaneous event was not replacing the pre-planned playground visit.

So, the next hour was spent as a family exploring the engines, bridge, decks and weaponry of a naval vessel. The highlight for the kids was the captain’s chair, the downside for us all was the cold wind on the upper decks. But we were all enjoying the opportunity to see something that isn’t available every day.

Back on land, we got an ice cream (thankfully, our kids believe ice cream is not just for summer!); we still made the photographic exhibition (which the kids enjoyed as well) and great day was had by all. Thanks to flexibility.