Father's Day eCard

The third Sunday in June in the UK, the US, Canada, France and many other countries.

Some countries differ: it falls in March in parts of Europe and in September in Australia and New Zealand. Check the recipient's country if you are sending internationally.

Name one specific thing he did. Fathers tend to be thanked in generalities, so a concrete memory does more work: a lift he gave you at an unreasonable hour, advice you ignored and later used, something you have realised he was quietly handling.

Humour works well as long as one sincere line survives it.

Acknowledge that he chose the role. The most meaningful thing you can say to a stepfather or father figure is usually that he did not have to and did it anyway.

Use whatever name you actually call him rather than forcing the word father, and keep it warm and specific.

Write something small and true rather than something large and false. A card can be brief and still be kind.

Thanking him for one specific thing, or simply wishing him a good day, is entirely acceptable. You do not owe a card more warmth than the relationship contains.

Send something that acknowledges the day directly. People who have lost their father usually find Father's Day harder for the silence around it than for the day itself, so a short message naming him is a kindness.

A sympathy card or a thinking of you card suits this better than a Father's Day one.

Yes. Sign it from everyone at the sign-off step, add a family photo, and share the single link.

A recorded voice message with the children on it is usually the part that gets played more than once.