When the government gives us a break, take it
“Ontarians work very hard and they deserve to have more time to spend with the people they love.”
So states the Ontario Ministry of Labour’s Family Day Q&A section on its website. There are 16 questions listed. My only question is what can my family do with this government-sanctioned time? There are no hints in this regard and no answers that concern me other than the rational for the timing, which is to give us a much-needed break between New Year’s and Easter.
Even though Family Day is a relatively young holiday when compared to the likes of Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving, it has become a welcome tradition of having a day off work in February. You won’t hear anyone saying “Happy Family Day” and as far as I know, Hallmark has yet to make it a card-giving occasion. Dollar store shelves aren’t heaped with Family Day paraphernalia.
Perhaps the absence of gifts and decorations and obligations is what Family Day is all about. We can make it our own. There is no commercialism associated with this eight-year-old tradition other entertainment venues, attractions and large shopping malls providing a place for families to be families.
I won’t get into a discussion as to what constitutes a family but for the sake of this column, let’s assume it’s parents with young children and perhaps extended family like aunts, uncles, grandparents and possibly a Labradoodle. It’s likely best to spend our mandated family time with family members with whom we enjoy spending time. In the best-case scenario, this should involve our children.
Family Day was instituted when my kids were age 12 and 14. Our tradition was to go for a winter hike for as many years as we could before they wanted their parents to take a hike. In keeping with the low-key nature of this holiday, we needn’t worry about making a plan, other than to hang around together doing something or nothing but “spending time” as our government has advised.
Let me be the first to wish you and yours a very happy Family Day.
