Handing my mum a handwritten card, full of sentiment, memories and gratitude, she was confused and asked me what it was for. I told her that she deserved to be celebrated on Father’s Day because she’s both my parents rolled into one. We shared a big hug as she teared up.
For many, Father’s Day is, of course, a celebration of their dads – thanking them for bringing them up and giving them the life they enjoy. But for me, it’s just another opportunity to thank my mum Janet for bringing me up solo and shaping me into the woman I am. I grew up in a single-parent household.
Splitting from my mum when I was just two years old, my biological dad walked out and has never made any attempt to contact me. I haven’t ever tried to reach out to my dad because I don’t feel the need to. I know he’s out there somewhere, I know what he does for a living and I know he’s got a son, my half brother, who I have never met.
I have no recollection of my dad at all and I’m happy keeping it that way – my mum is all I need. My mum never hid the fact that I had a dad – she was so upfront about it that I never needed to ask any questions. I knew that she was the main person in my life and it’s been this way for most of my life.
I was given my mum’s surname over my dad’s and his name doesn’t even appear on my birth certificate. When I was born, my parents were together, but as they were not married my mum wanted me to have her name. I don’t think about my dad at all, and I.
