September 16 - National Working Parents Day

Happy National Working Parents Day! On September 16th, this day honors, obviously, the working parent. The day pays tribute to those parents who tireleasly work to provide for their family. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, around sixty-one percent of families with children have both parents working outside of the home.  

 

That number increases to nearly sixty-five percent for families when the youngest child is at least six years old. However, if the youngest child is under six years old, that number drops to approximately fifty-six percent. 
 
Working parents face a range of challenges. While juggling daycare and schedules top the list, they also struggle to find time with each other, and their children as well. It’s often a balancing act that requires excellent communication skills, patience, and lots of love. 
 
Often, working parents feel divided between home and work. Many times, parents work opposite schedules, so there’s always a parent home with the kids. As a result, the adults rarely spend any time alone.  

 
Like many other working parents, they’re always on the go. Everyone has their responsibilities. Each takes turns staying home if one of the children becomes sick. School activities and other events are carefully orchestrated. 

 
Precious family meals, bedtime stories, family movie nights and vacations become memorable highlights. These are the moments where working parents receive their well-deserved rewards. 

 

HOW TO OBSERVE 

 

A parent’s work is never done. Working parents, pat yourself on the back! Spend some time with your children. Before long, they’ll be grown. By then, your hard work will be done.  

 
For now, celebrate your tenacity and perseverance. Be sure to remember all of the hard work that parents do and use #WorkingParentsDay to share on social media. 

 
HISTORY 
 
National Day Calendar® continues to research the history and source of National Working Parents Day. 

 
#WorkingParentsDay

@BLS_gov 

@nichecinema

September 16 - National Step Family Day

 

Happy National Step Family Day! On September 16, this day recognizes all the blended families making it work.  

In the United States, over thirty percent of the under eighteen population live in a stepfamily environment.   

Also known as a blended family, parents, siblings and extended family members work together to create happy, functional environments. Circumstances vary.  

Whether divorce, a death in the family or other event created the stepfamily, the important thing is that they chose to be family 

Keep a few things in mind when starting a new relationship.   

• Professional advice  

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  • Self-help books by professionals will guide you through each phase. While some people scoff at this approach, professional guidance and research offer a wealth of information. Pick what works for your family dynamic. 

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  • Family therapy also offers intermittent support. Many employers include assistance programs that provide the service free. 

• Take it slow 

 

• • Rushing into a relationship is risky when children aren’t involved. Parents with successful stepfamilies take their time and introduce the new person in their life slowly. 

• • Allow time for the children to adjust to the transition. 

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• Keep it light 

 

• • Everyone will need to get to know each other, their likes and dislikes. 

• • Play easy games that bring out each other’s personalities. 

• • Try one on one time doing something your child enjoys. 

• Level the playing field   

• • Choose activities everyone involved will enjoy and are capable of participating. If even one member of the group is left out, someone will feel like an outsider. For example, a boating adventure will go badly if one family member gets seasick easily. The outing will be a disaster with one member feeling miserable and the rest of the crew blaming them for ruining the day. 

• Give children permission to be loyal 

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  • A child’s dad or mom is their dad or mom. 

• • The new person coming into their life is your new spouse. They are a step-parent. Their role is different from your child’s parent. 

• • Children carry overwhelming guilt for being nice, kind or even liking your new spouse. Let them know they are allowed to be loyal, but not rude or disrespectful. 

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  • Negative words and former spouses 

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• • Children develop a sense of our character over time. How we speak of our children’s other parent reflects on us. 

  
  

  Try not to use negative words about the absent parent. It’s possible for former spouses to join in on family activities such as birthdays. 

However, if a child’s other parent is not in the child’s life the custodial parent can explain when the child is old enough to understand in simple terms without using disparaging terms. 

 
HOW TO OBSERVE 

 
Share your tips for successful stepfamilies. Share photos of your family using #NationalStepfamilyDay to post on social media. 

 
HISTORY 

 
In 1997, American stepfamily expert Cristy Borgeld of Grand Rapids, Michigan founded National Stepfamily Day.

"Striving to do your BEST is an accomplishment being born." ~Christy Borgeld 

 
#NationalStepfamilyDay 

@NSFD 

@Christyishere 

@nichecinema