Ask Bonnie

Mother’s Day came first, but Father’s Day wasn’t too far behind. It’s amazing what people accomplish when they put their minds to good use and encourage others to join their cause. It just wouldn’t be the same without many of our holidays and Father’s Day is one of them.

Who came up with the idea of Father’s Day?

Her name was Sonora Louise Smart Dodd and she lived in Spokane, Washington. Sonora was the oldest of six children raised by their father, William Jackson Smart, when their mother died during childbirth. Sonora honored and revered her father, and while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon, in 1909, she determined there should also be a day to honor fathers.

Sonora gained local support and made her dream a reality, one year later, within her own city of Spokane, Washington. Sonora married John Bruce Dodd. She died March 22, 1978, several years after Father’s Day became a permanent national observance.

Why June?

In 1910 Sonora chose June 19th, as the day to celebrate Father’s Day because that was her father’s birthday. With support from the Spokane Ministerial Association and the YMCA, the first Father’s Day was celebrated in Spokane on June 19, 1910.

Spice up the Father’s Day festivities with an activity or two.

Interview your father and/or grandfather. Ask questions about his birth, childhood, and what he did when he was a teenager. Find out favorite subjects in school, how he met your mother or grandmother. Inquire about his favorite job. End the interview by expressing your love for him.

Get together with a few other families and play the Father/Child Game. Divide into four father/child teams. Ask the fathers to leave the room while the children sit in chairs. Ask the same four or five questions to each child about their fathers. Bring in the fathers and ask them the same questions. Will the father and child have the same answers? Switch places and see how well the father’s know the children. Award a red rose to the winning father/child team.

Question Ideas: Favorite color, movie, candy bar, color of toothbrush, memorable moment with you, best friend, hobby, talent, food, animal, cartoon, pizza topping, ice cream topping, restaurant. Most embarrassing moment. Favorite holiday.

Have a Father’s Day BBQ or picnic. Make a crown for dad and let him know he’s “King” for the day. This can be a family activity or extend an invitation to a few other families also. Make sure all the dad’s are given “Royal Treatment”.