EDITORIAL: There is no single way to be a great father
Father's Day arrives this year amid interesting - and mostly silly - debates over the role of men and fathers in American society.
Take, as an example of the silliness, the U.S. Senate race in Texas, where Democratic candidate James Talarico recently delivered a pretty good synopsis of the supposed issue:
"Every Saturday morning, my dad would mow our lawn," Talarico said of his adoptive father. "And then, without anyone asking him, he would go next door and mow our neighbor's lawn, because she was elderly and a widow. He never talked about it. He just did it, because that's what a man does. Call me old-fashioned, but a man takes responsibility, he upholds his commitments to his family and his neighbors, and he does what's right even when no one is watching."
Amid Republican attacks on his "masculinity," Talarico also has said: "Nowadays, our culture tells young men that greatness is tearing other people down, is trolling and owning and dominating. But my dad showed me what real greatness looks like."
We mention this not to inject politics into the annual celebration of Father's Day, which is Sunday, but to embrace the ethos that there is no single definition of masculinity or fatherhood or basic humanity. There are disparate ways to go about doing what's right even when no one is watching.
In that regard, the role of fathers has evolved in American society. Not all that long ago, fathers were viewed as distant, stoic protectors and providers. Now, as the Pew Research Center summarizes: "Today's dads spend more time caring for their children, and they're less likely than in the past to be the family breadwinner. At the same time, most view parenthood as a key aspect of who they are."
America's children - and parents - are better off for that evolution. Surveys have shown that modern fathers spend triple the amount of time with children compared to dads in 1965. Those results reflect averages; each dynamic is different, and each father fills the role that fits best for his family.
Which is kind of the point of Father's Day. There is no single way to be a great father, but there is a common desire to provide, protect, engage, teach and help children grow into productive adults. The American Psychological Association asserts: "Research across families from all ethnic backgrounds suggests that fathers' affection and increased family involvement help promote children's social and emotional development."
The celebration of that role can be traced to our state. In 1909, Spokane's Sonora Dodd came up with the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon. Her father, William Smart, was a widowed Civil War veteran who raised six children while working his farm, and Dodd believed that he deserved some recognition.
The first Father's Day was proclaimed by the mayor of Spokane on June 19, 1910, with the month selected because Smart's birthday was in June. The idea spread, and President Richard Nixon signed the holiday into law in 1972. Now, according to Hallmark, Father's Day ranks fourth in terms of greeting card purchases, with dads of all types being celebrated for the various roles they play in the lives of children.
That role is not limited to a biological connection. Any male who mentors or helps to raise a child is contributing to that child's development and to the sturdiness of our society. As one unknown pundit said, "Dads are most ordinary men turned by love into heroes, adventurers, storytellers, and singers of song."
Happy Father's Day.
Unlock all stories. Stay informed.
Starting at just $1.99/week
Become a subscriber and get unlimited access to every story, plus our ePaper and app for seamless reading anywhere. Stay informed, support local journalism, and stay connected to your community.
Subscribe today
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published June 20, 2026 at 7:04 AM.