Father’s Day? Dad just can’t keep pace with Mom [Video]

Every day is Father’s Day -- or should be. But this year at least, it looks as if Dad is in for a bigger haul than usual.

The National Retail Federation says spending on Father’s Day gifts this year should hit about $12.7 billion, up 10% from last year. For those keeping score, that means the Big Guy is in for an average $117 goodie.

That seems a tad pricey to this particular pop, who frequently sees his worth reflected in a new pair of argyle socks. But whatever.

According to Consumer Reports, gadgets (not argyle socks) will be a going concern this year, with tablets and smartphones topping many shoppers’ lists.

But here’s my question: How come Mom basks in more material love than Dad? The retail federation says spending on Mother’s Day this year hit $18.6 billion, or a whopping $6 billion more than what dads will take in.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but unless you’re the Virgin Mary, there’d be no Mother’s Day without a little assist from the Father’s Day side of things. (Yes, yes, I know: Nine months of pregnancy is a big deal, but we’re there every step of the way, pretty much.)

But here’s what really burns. Mother’s Day has been a national holiday since Woodrow Wilson signed it into law in 1914. Yep, we’ve been officially honoring Mom for almost a century.

As for Dad, he didn’t get his day in the national sun until Richard Nixon made Father’s Day the law of the land in -- wait for it -- 1972. Seriously, almost 60 years had to pass before anyone realized that Dad deserved a day as well?

Bitter? Me? Nah.

A sock by any other name would smell as sweet. Or something like that.