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It’s no secret that Father’s Day can be a bit of an uncomfortable day for some. If you have a strained relationship with your dad, then you cringe a little when people ask you, “Are you seeing your dad today?” or “What did you get your dad for Father’s Day?” because the answers could be no and nothing. Estrangement comes in many forms, of course. Some fathers are literally not there—they’re just gone. They left. Nobody knows where they are. Some fathers left the family in an official manner, moving out of the house, but are still around. Some fathers are very much in the picture living under the same roof as their children but just aren’t emotionally available. This can be often true when a father had all daughters, but hoped for a son—he may not provide his daughters with the love and attention they need. My dad was caught cheating and kicked out when I was 15. He’s still with the other woman who openly wishes I didn’t exist since I’ll take up part of my father’s money according to his will, which she clearly wishes she received all of. That puts a damper on our relationship I assure you. For Father’s Day, here is a note to women with estranged relationships with their fathers.
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You’re not alone, and you’re not a bad daughter
Don’t let all the smiling faces and anecdotes about how Father’s Day will be spent fool you. A lot of people have less-than-perfect relationships with their fathers. You aren’t strange or bad for not celebrating this holiday. Father’s Day is for fathers who acted as fathers. Maybe you just didn’t have one of those. That’s not something you should feel bad about.
