Plymouth Man Urges Lawmakers to Create Day for Stepdads

In his book, 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad, Joe D’Eramo describes a special day his stepchildren set up for him the week before Father’s Day called Dad’s Day. Touched by the gesture by his children and with sensitivity to children who might not be able to celebrate Father’s Day with their stepfather, he has begun a movement to proclaim Monday, June 18, 2012 as the first StepDad’s Day.

“Stepfathers play an important part in the lives of their stepchildren. Yet it can be difficult for children to celebrate Father’s Day with their stepfather for any number of reasons—visitation schedules that require the children to be with the biological father on Father’s Day; guilt over celebrating Father’s Day with someone who is not their biological father,” said D’Eramo. “Having a separate day gives them the opportunity to honor these men who are so important in their lives without guilt or competition.”

D’Eramo’s efforts have included petitioning Massachusetts’ Governor Deval Patrick to declare Monday, June 18, the day after Father’s Day, as StepDad’s Day.

“We may not be the biological father, but you can’t get much closer when it comes to the job description. Which makes it very appropriate to have StepDad’s Day as close to Father’s Day as possible,” said D’Eramo

It’s a sentiment that’s received support from a number of parent organizations, particularly with the rise in the number of blended families.  According to the website The Bonded Family, almost 2,100 blended families form in the United States every day. Another site, Smart Stepfamilies, states that more than 29 million parents (13 percent) are also stepparents to other children.

“Being a father is about what you do during the days, weeks, months and years after the birth of the child than whether or not you were there at conception,” said Greg Bishop, founder of Boot Camp for New Dads. “Stepfathers deserve the recognition for the important role they play. More importantly, the children should have the opportunity to honor these special men without it feeling like a slight to their father.”

Governor Patrick is due to rule on the proclamation on StepDad’s Day in June.

Plymouth, Mass.-resident and step-parent of two Joe D’Eramo recently published a new e-book, 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad, to offers some helpful suggestions for soon-to-be or newly married men who are becoming husbands and fathers for the first time.

25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad sells for $8.95 on Amazon as a Kindle book (Kindle also offers a free app that enables customers to read e-books on their PC) and as an e-book on D’Eramo’s website, www.hiroadcommunications.com. You can read more about the book and tips for stepfathers on the 25 Ways to go from Stepfather to StepDad Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/mystepdad.