National Son and Daughter Day
National Son and Daughter Day is celebrated annually on August 11. This love-centric family holiday (which we’re sure has gained the approval of both Gloria Steinem and Smokey Robinson, as you’ll see) reminds us to take a step back from the whirlwind of paying the bills, surviving the maelstrom of current events, and meeting what seem to be thousands of daily obligations, and spend time with our children.
National Son and Daughter Day is a time to go ahead and spoil the kids a little. Be a grandparent ahead of time for a day, and remind the kids that through all the ascents and descents of mayhem and joy, and however they’ve turned out so far, they’re the greatest loves of your life.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL SON AND DAUGHTER DAY
The population at large may already be familiar with similar holidays like Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day, and Father-Daughter Day, the former instituted in part by the Ms. Foundation for Women and its founder, journalist Gloria Steinem, and the latter the result of an effort on musician Smokey Robinson’s part to stay close to his six daughters no matter what.
But National Son and Daughter Day traces its origins a little farther back in time than either of these if popular wisdom is to be trusted. All the way back to 1930s Missouri, where a gentleman of the town of St. Joseph took up a young boy’s cause when the boy complained that his mom and dad each had a “Day,” so why shouldn’t he? The man was convinced and gradually the idea caught on, its popularity ebbing and flowing over the years, until the 1970s.
That brought another big jump: a Florida House member allegedly put in a request to the U.S. Congress to officially recognize National Son and Daughter Day. The Representative, Claude Pepper even had in mind to specially recognize George Paul, a hero of Pepper’s from the old Texas rodeo circuit, by attaching Paul’s name to the holiday, should it become official. Or is that just a bunch of “bull”? Our researchers are unable to pinpoint the exact Congressional record containing the request.
The next reference of National Son and Daughter Day is in the Nanaimo Daily News. The Canadian publication, found in the British Columbia region, referenced the day in 1988. Whatever the origins are, August 11 is a day for spending some quality time with your children. Do something that you all enjoy doing as a family and treasure those moments together.
NATIONAL SON AND DAUGHTER DAY ACTIVITIES
1.Take the day off
Depending on your particular workload, you might feel like you work more than you get to spend time with your family. To celebrate National Son and Daughter Day, try using up some of that paid time off or even take a sick day so you can do something fun with the kids. This is a day for quality time.
2.Make a special treat
It doesn’t have to be a sugary snack or a messy project, either. You know what your children love to eat and chances are there’s even a favorite food that you can make together at home. Some fun and relatively healthy make-at-home snacks include tacos, peanut butter crackers or veggies and ranch dip. You could even go all-out with your kids and teach them to make a favorite dinner or opt for a treat with less cleanup and let the kids pick a restaurant for a special night out.
3.Spend time with your children
Whether your children are youngsters at home or adults on their own, Son and Daughter Day is a great reminder to make time in your life to stay connected. Take your children out to a movie, meet up for a stroll through the park or sit down around the dinner table and really listen to what they have to say. Sometimes the best way to say “I love you” is by being available and letting the youngsters take the lead. Whatever your children like to do, you can rock this holiday by showing up with your natural excitement for their successes.
WHY WE LOVE NATIONAL SON AND DAUGHTER DAY
A. We just can’t help it
Humans are social creatures and we’re all genetically programmed to bond with others. Children, from their first breaths to their first steps and words, form deep bonds with parents and caretakers, just like we connect with our children from the moment they’re born. So, for all the difficulties they may put us through, we can’t help loving our kids — it’s science!
B. It balances out other family holidays
There’s Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and even Grandparent’s Day. Isn’t it only fair that we have a Son and Daughter Day, too? After your kids go above and beyond on a Mother’s Day gift that brought you to tears (or a Father’s Day gift that wasn’t just another power tie), they deserve a bit of socially-sanctioned celebration themselves. Beyond the lesson this teaches about fairness and equality, kids can start to see how the yearly cycles of family holidays nurture relationships by giving and receiving appreciation in equal measure.holidays nurture relationships by giving and receiving appreciation in equal measure.
C. This holiday is unique and special
There are lots of opportunities to dote on your kids, but National Son and Daughter Day is one-of-a-kind. An individual holiday like a child’s birthday is only special for one child and communal holidays like Christmas or summer vacation don’t really focus on anybody in particular. But National Son and Daughter Day is not just a day for gifts and toys but a time to let your children know through words and deeds how much you really love them.
References:
“National Son and Daughter Day” │ https://nationaltoday.com/national-son-daughter-day/