At this time of the year, when we just celebrated Mother’s Day and prepare to celebrate Father’s Day next month, it always brings to my mind a question that I remember from my youth.

It was pretty universal in my generation to ask the following question – particularly after seeing  parents receiving gifts and being honored on their special days: “If there’s a Mother’s Day and a Father’s Day, why isn’t there a Children’s Day?”  I don’t know where parents learned it, but every parent seemed to know the same answer, “Every day is Children’s Day.”  I never heard anyone’s parent give a different answer.

I don’t know if children still ask the question because it really is now obsolete.  There now are actually two Children’s Days: National Children’s Day in the U.S. that is celebrated in June and World Children’s Day that is celebrated in November.  They haven’t achieved the same notoriety or status as Mother’s Day and Father’s Day – perhaps because they have been in existence for a shorter time or because, in many families, “every day is Children’s Day.”

That actually is a nice model.  I’m a fan of special days, and I think that my wife really appreciates the love and attention that she receives from my children and grandchildren and even me on Mother’s Day, and I enjoy the experience of Father’s Day.  The appreciation that’s shown to me makes me feel that I did something right in building our family.  Despite this, I’m especially cognizant and appreciative of those thoughts and gestures and actions that occur throughout the year that recreate the feeling of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day during many days throughout the year.

Special recognition days are nice celebrations, but the best celebrations occur in a small way on those days that aren’t special events.  Let’s commit ourselves to bring the spirit of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and Children’s Day to every day.  We don’t have to give up the holidays to make every day important enough to share harmony, support and appreciation with our loved ones – whether they be formal members of our family or not.

Ron Kaiser, Ph.D. Psychologist, Educator, Author, Podcaster

Ron Kaiser, Ph.D., is a positive health psychologist, coach, author, podcaster, educator, consultant, and speaker. He has been in practice for more than five decades, including 25 years as Director of Psychology at the world-famous Jefferson Headache Center at Thomas Jefferson University. As an innovative thought leader in the field, he has developed the concepts of THE MENTAL HEALTH GYM, GOAL-ACHIEVING PSYCHOTHERAPY (GAP), THE TYPE P PERSONALITY, and REJUVENAGING®.