June 2021

Father’s Day

Father's Day in the U.S. has a straightforward backstory (unlike Mother's Day, which isn't quite as cut-and-dry). The only fact that might surprise you is that the holiday was dreamt up by a woman!

According to History.com, the celebration of Father's Day as we know it today was spearheaded by a woman named Sonora Smart Dodd in 1909. She "tried to establish an official equivalent to Mother’s Day for male parents," and it was not long before she won support from local businesses and beyond. On June 19, 1910, the first-ever Father's Day was celebrated in the state of Washington.

Father’s Day also marks the beginning of the Summer season. Take advantage of long sunny days by exploring the natural world.

Go bird watching. Take photos and keep track of your sightings. Use an app or guidebook to identify feathered friends.

Grow fresh herbs in containers. Use old coffee cans, milk jugs, mason jars, plastic cups, or anything else you have around the house. Keep your herb garden on a patio or windowsill.

Look for shapes in the clouds. Put a blanket in the grass and stare up at the sky. Take turns talking about what you see in the clouds.

Make a bird feeder. Watch birds visit your yard and add to your list of bird sightings.

Make fairy houses. Use moss, bark, and leaves to create a dwelling fit for Thumbelina.

Pick your own. Find a farm with blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, veggies, or flowers and get picking.

Source: Verywellfamily.com