A thought provoking blog by Chad Skelton: With Father's Day less than a week away, millions of dads can look forward to hearing how great they are.

Yet - at the risk of inciting a lot of hate mail - I can't help but wonder if at least some of that praise is probably undeserved. And that's because dads seem to be held to an entirely different - and much lower - standard than moms are.

Think about it. When you call someone a "Great Dad", what exactly do you mean? Do you mean that they are a truly exceptional parent, going above and beyond the call? Or, instead, is "Great Dad" a term you give to any father who shows any interest in parenting at all? One who even occasionally does the jobs (changing diapers, feeding, story time) that we usually think of as women's work?

My wife is often told by her friends and family what a "great dad" I am. And as flattering and she, and I, find that, it also kind of ticks her off. Because, aside from me, virtually no one ever tells her what a great mom she is.

Which is ridiculous. By almost any objective standard, she is the superior parent.

Don't get me wrong. I think I'm an OK dad. But she's more patient, more creative and more affectionate with The Boy than I am. And when it comes down to pure parenting skills - whether it's baking, crafts or dressing a squirmy baby - she wins hands down. (Though I'm getting better since my year off began.)

In essence, the bar for fatherhood is so low - lazy at best, absent or abusive at worst - that any dad can be a "Great Dad" simply by showing up.

What do you think? Start a thread on the forum & let us know.

Read on in The Vancouver Sun