A belated Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.

Here's hoping your day was a plethora of power tools, a cornucopia of car wash products and chocolate, or a veritable smorgasbord of socks.

But of course, that's not really what it's all about.

Father's Day - like its Mother's Day counterpart back in May - is a day to stop and thank the dads in our lives.

And that means all the dads; dads in the strict biological sense of the word, stepdads, granddads, and all those men who play that important "dad" role in a child's life.

Because while we call it Father's Day, it's really about being a dad, not just fathering a child. An adopted child's dad is no less a dad. There are plenty of stepfathers who have stepped up to the plate and embraced their responsibilities as a dad. The fact they weren't around at the time of conception is irrelevant when it comes to being a dad.

Being a dad is about much more than providing the necessary genetic material. It's about being there for your children, being part of their lives, helping raise them. It's about knowing that, in a heartbeat, you'd walk through fire for them. It's about being their dad whether you live with them fulltime, or every second week, or see them once a fortnight.

So, maybe we should re-name the day to more accurately reflect what it's all about, and start talking about Dad's Day. Because dads are great. And the more dads there are out there, the better it will be for our children.

For some of us, it is a day to remember the dads who are no longer with us. Mine died on Father's Day 11 years ago. In the last few days, I've been to two funerals, for men who were husbands, dads and granddads. For their families, like it is for mine, Father's Day, and its abundance of advertising, will also mark the anniversary of a death.

But, the day should still be celebrated. So, Happy Dad's Day to all those dads out there who are doing their damnedest. It's appreciated.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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