Reporter’s Notebook -- Christine Carrillo

Father’s Day is fast approaching, and I’m as usual unprepared.

I blame elementary school.

Every year, come Mother’s Day, my teachers would set aside an

afternoon to work on beautifully handcrafted gifts for our mothers. The

thing is, that wasn’t the case for our fathers.

Because Father’s Day fell so close to the end of the school year, my

teachers never seemed to find the time to do the same for our dads.

I can recall one year, when my brothers and I were much younger, we

had each made Mother’s Day gifts in school but made nothing for Father’s

Day. Feeling the weight of guilt on our shoulders, the three of us

decided to take things into our own hands. We decided to make him

something on our own.

We proved ourselves capable.

But alas, that was just one year out of many, many years that have

followed during which it never fails that we manage to wait to the last

possible minute to prepare.

And, of course, not only do we wait, but we try to hide the fact that

we waited, pretending that we’ve been planning and shopping for weeks.

Thankfully, we can always count on my dad to pretend he didn’t notice.

Thanks, Dad.

While I can blame my lack of knowing how to prepare for Father’s Day

on elementary school for a while, things change and I’ve grown up.

So, what’s my excuse now?

For lack of a better scapegoat, I’m going to say society.

I’ve noticed that I’m not the only one who seems to somehow forget

Father’s Day. And it’s not actually forgetting Father’s Day, it’s not

giving it the same grandeur received by other holidays, like Mother’s

Day, for example.

When Mother’s Day nears, society makes certain you know it. It could

be because of the large amount of retail sales and specials, but more

likely it’s thanks to the mothers themselves, who sprout seeds in the

minds of their loved ones to make sure they don’t forget. Men, generally,

take a more humble approach, a more quiet approach. They may mention some

trinket they could use or some tool they can’t do without, but it doesn’t

evoke the same response.

In all honesty, I think it’s more than reminders.

The role of fathers is often seen as ideal but not necessary. They’re

nice to have around, but their presence doesn’t effect a child as much as

a mother’s does.

I disagree.

I don’t know how I would have gotten this far in my life without my

father, and I don’t know how my brothers would have become the men they

are without him either.

His role in our lives has been every bit as important as my mother’s,

and he should be given the same fanfare.

With that said, I must go back to my comment about being unprepared.

If I am so appreciative of my father, why is it that I can’t seem to get

it in gear?

Well, I have an answer.

I forgot.

To be honest, I realized Father’s Day was coming up a few weeks ago

when my brother and I went shopping. Thanks to all the wonderful Father’s

Day sales, he was able to reap what should have been my father’s

benefits. While that did remind me the annual event was closely

approaching, I still didn’t know when.

Two calendars on my desk and a huge reminder like that, and I still

didn’t know when.

Finally, I remembered to look it up. Now, that wonderful calendar that

tells me when Waitangi Day in New Zealand (Feb. 6) and Canada Day (May 1)

is will come in handy.

With the date in hand (Sunday, for all of you in worse shape than I

am), I tried to think of how I might do something special for him and

buying him presents with his money didn’t seem as appropriate,

considering I have a job of my own.

Keeping in mind I still have two days of shopping left, which, staying

true to form, I plan to take advantage of, I decided to dedicate my first

Reporter’s Notebook to him.

Hope you liked it, Dad.

Happy Father’s Day. I love you.

* Christine Carrillo is the news assistant. She may be reached at

(949) 574-4298 or by e-mail ato7 [email protected] .