Father’s Day was founded in 1910 in Spokane, Wash., by Sonora Smart Dodd. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children there. After hearing a sermon about Jarvis’ Mother’s Day in 1909, she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them. Despite support from President Woodrow Wilson, there was resistance from Congress which feared it would become to commercialized. So, it did not have much success initially.
But, it eventually gained traction.
The average American will spend about $120 for Father’s Day this year. Spending on moms for Mother’s Day 2013 was 40 percent higher, at $168, the widest spending gap since 2008.
Why? Pundits speculate that mothers tend to be the nurturers in a family and, as such, garner more affection from their children.
Maybe it’s timing. Mothers Day lands in spring as we are shaking off the winter doldrums and are ready to spend money again. Also, Father’s Day lands at the outset of summer – the season of traveling baseball games and vacations. There is just too much else going on so dad gets overlooked.
Or, it could be a case of mom liking to go out, dad liking to home. According to National Retail Federation findings, more than half (55.3 percent) of Mother’s Day celebrants planned to treat mom to a special dinner this year, compared to just 45.9 percent planning the same for Dad.
Additionally, celebrants planned to spend about 25 percent more on Mom for this outing compared to dad. Perhaps dads just prefer meat on the grill.
And, 91 percent of people believe Mother’s Day is more important than Father’s Day. One more fact: The U.S. Congress declared Mother’s Day a national holiday in 1914. It wasn’t until 1972 when National Father’s Day was instituted. 
Does all this really matter? Who knows.
But, a noted sociologist, Dr. David Popenoe, is one of the pioneers of the relatively young field of research into fathers and fatherhood. “Fathers are far more than just ‘second adults’ in the home,” he said. “Involved fathers bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring.” Fathers have a direct impact on the well-being of their children.
One of the most important influences a father can have on his child is indirect—fathers influence their children in large part through the quality of their relationship with the mother of their children. A father who has a good relationship with the mother of their children is more likely to be involved and to spend time with their children and to have children who are psychologically and emotionally healthier.
Father’s Day, like Mother’s Day, is an opportunity to honor someone important in our lives.
Dale Hogg