Happy Father's Day to ME.

   I am the definition of single parent. I have 100% custody of my 3 1/2 year old daughter, and have raised her ALONE since day one. I have financially supported my child, without any contribution. I have never received a diaper, a jar of formula, or any clothing. I have never been given a penny toward any cost of raising her. I pay for the rent on a two bedroom apartment, and every utility, by myself. I pay for every outing to the swimming pool, the zoo, or to the county fair. I spend one third of my income paying for her childcare while I work as much as possible to provide all of these expenses.
   I have no physical help. I wake at all hours of the night, comforting her when she is sad, mad, or afraid. I do not sleep in, and I don't take naps. I don't remember what it was like to sleep for 8 hours straight anymore. I cover every cut and scrape with a Band-aid. I read every book, and answer every question. I take my daughter to every doctor's appointment, make sure she brushes her teeth and her hair every morning. I wash all of her clothes, and clean up all of her messes. There is no such thing as a day off. I do not have the liberty of "personal time." If I want a break, I arrange a babysitter. There are people who think that I have no right to celebrate Father's Day. That this day of the year is specifically for Father's. I AM a father. I am a mother. I am a taxi driver, a cook, a maid, a nurse, and a counselor. I will celebrate any day I choose, and it's because I have earned that. All the blood, sweat and tears that I have put into this, gives me that right. You cannot take that away from me with your idiotic MEMES.
   If a father raising his child alone wants to celebrate Mother's Day, I will gladly invite him to breakfast. I am not in competition with him, and I do not feel the need to compare myself to him. I know what it's like to play both roles. It does not take away from the father's or mother's in the world when we allow a single parent to be recognized on both days. If you are upset by this, you are likely the parent who hasn't done much of anything when it comes to financially or physically supporting your child, and in that case, this is YOUR problem. Congratulations to all of the parents raising their child/children alone. Until we have a "Single Parent" day, take all the days you can, and give yourself a huge pat on the back. You are doing everything you can, and you are doing it alone.

   "It takes a village to raise a child." If you're raising a child on your own, you ARE the village. Happy FATHER'S DAY.