Happy Father's Day, you tough mother, you!

On the Friday before Mother's Day, overhearing people at a bank wishing each other a happy Mother's Day, I found myself a little annoyed. After all, I've been called many things, including one tough mother. So I said to these women, "Some people I know call me a tough mother, but nobody ever wishes me a happy Mother's Day!" They all laughed and as I left called after me "Have a happy Mother's Day."

Sunday is Father's day and it occurred to me that though a man might be called a mother, either derisively or with begrudging admiration, Father is never used this way. Imagine "hey man, you are one tough father!"

Why doesn't it work?