I Don’t Have Kids, But Here’s Why I Still Celebrate Father’s Day

Father's Day 2020 was certainly one for the books.

I visited my dad at his house and instead of going out to lunch or dinner or doing anything at all, we stayed in and just hung out together as a family. My brother and I decided to just keep it low-key and play some corn hole and Jacob's Ladder in the backyard while burgers and hot dogs were cooked up on the grill.

My father's a simple man, and Father's Day was a simple day – just the way we hoped it would be. The sun as shining and the company was more than perfect. Perhaps this could be an annual tradition from here on out, as long as the weather abides.

As nice as it was to celebrate the man who put me on this earth and help guide me through life, I couldn't help but notice that I was enjoying the day as well, but in a different light.

I have two cats and a dog, therefore, I am a "Dog Dad" and a "Cat Dad." Bella the dog is like my daughter, and cats Guinness and Bailey are like a son and a daughter, respectively.

The love I have for each one of them is like no other and before you begin with the "how can you compare pets to kids" argument, I'm not. Yes, children are clearly much more important and a bigger responsibility than animals are, but since I don't have kids of my own, my pets are my own and mean the world.

Do I consider myself a parent? Absolutely, but again, not like a normal parent, but still one with responsibilities and caretaking duties.

Between the dog and the cats, I spent some time with them today and even woke up to a pretty sweet Father's Day gift.

So, to all the fellas out there with pets of their own, but don't have children like me, you go on and celebrate Father's Day. There's nothing that claims what a father must be in order to participate, so take the day as it is and celebrate accordingly.