National Parents Day

July 22, 2012 is a special day to honor your mother and father. It’s a time to celebrate the family structure and family values. The family unit is an important structure for the health of children, and the nation. That structure, and those values, are established and nurtured by your parents.  “Oh man, did I pull that out of a conservative hand book or what.”

Today is not a day of gift giving. That's for Mother's Day and Father's Day. The best way to mark this day is by spending time with your parents doing something fun. It’s also important that you let them how much they are loved and appreciated. In 1994, President William (Bill) Clinton proclaimed the fourth Sunday in July as National Parents Day. 

Of course, the definition of Family unit has changed over time and I believe that I should take the moment to acknowledge this fact.  What was considered the so called Normal family unit consisted of male/female parental unit.  In today’s society that definition is too limiting to what reality is when it comes to a parental and Family unit.

There are so many definitions of what constitutes a family unit in today’s world. Webster's Dictionary offers twenty-two definitions. The Census Bureau defines a family as "two or more persons related by birth, marriage or adoption who reside in the same household". I personally say family consist of 2 or more individuals who care for the other and are there to ensure the well-being of the other.

As Family can be defined in so many ways, so can the Parental unit. The main thing to be a parental unit is to show love, understanding, encouragement and protectiveness in rearing a child. Whether it be female/male, female/female or male/male. Whether it be grandmother/grandfather, aunt/uncle or any combination. As long as the goal of that unit is to be nurturing parental unit to the child.

Okay, kids everywhere....... its National Parents Day. Go out and honor Mom and Dad, Dad and Dad, Mom and Mom, etc. etc. etc.