Happy Father's Day, Volumnia?

 In recent years through social media as the third Sunday rolls around in June, I have seen a rise in the trend to wish single mother’s ‘Happy Father’s Day’. As this seems to be a relatively new phenomena, the question arises, is it appropriate to wish single mothers, ‘Happy Father’s Day’? I’ve seen both sides of the debate. One single mother’s post I read regarding this new way in giving thanks reads, “Please DO NOT Wish Me A Happy Father's Day...A Note To Single Moms Holding It Down Alone.” Her argument, no matter how affective the mother’s ability is to take on both parenting roles, or make up for the lack of one; she is not her son’s father. Another woman who takes a similar stance claims, “Misdirecting a day dedicated to our men overlooks the foundation laid by good fathers,” she feels that in by doing this, it is taking a way a special day to honor, well, honorable fathers. On the other hand, a young woman, who grew up in single-mother home and is now a single-mother herself writes, “So thank you to every Mother who has raised their children without a partner. You are truly an inspiration. Happy Father’s Day to you.” Her argument claims that it can be a very lonely and looming day for those who have to live without.

So what would Volumnia’s stance be on the issue? Would she prefer to only be honored as the strong mother on Mother’s Day, or would she relish on being honored on both days? 

A missing parent is a common element among Shakespeare’s plays, and many of his single parents, play the roll, either mother or father, to the extreme, Volumnia’s parenting approach can be considered the “fatherly-motherly” approach. “When yet he was tenderbodied and the only son of my womb, when … a mother should not sell him an hour from her beholding, I, considering how honour would become such a person … was pleased to let him seek danger where he was like to find fame. To a cruel war I sent him” (1.3). Volumnia rejects the role of playing the over-protective mother, sending her young son, knowingly, to a violent war. She finds pleasure in her son’s battle wounds, where most mothers would feel the need to nurture in the situation. Volumnia has raised Coriolanus in dominant, masculine, and stereotypical paternal ways, it is his maternal bonds that hold him captive to her commands. At the same time, Volumnia is sure to utilize her maternal rights to maintain more leverage over Coriolanus, “Trust to't, thou shalt not--on thy mother's womb, That brought thee to this world” (5.3). I think Volumnia would be more content to be honored on a day set a side, just for her, and her alone.